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GEOGUAPSIY: 


OR, 

A DESCRIPTION OP 



IN THREE PARTS, 


PART I.-GEOGRAPHICAL ORTHOGRAPHY^ 

DIVIDED AND ACCENTED. 


PART II.-A GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY, 

TO BE COMMITTED TO MEMORY. 


PART III.-A DESCRIPTION OF THE EARTH, 

Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, Manuftictures, 
Commerce, Government, Natural and Artificial 
Curiosities, &,c.—To be read in Classes. 


A0C02VEPANTED WITH AN ATI.AS. 

N To which is added, 

• Jin Easy\^IetJ}od of constructing Maps^ illustrated by Plates. 




FOlf THE USE OF SCHOOLS AND ACADEMIES. 


PRINTED AND PUBLISHED BY LINCOLN EDMANDS, 

No. 6^ Washington-Street, (53 Cornhill.) 

aLi«bf Cufhiof; & Jewett, Baltimore: Abraham Small, Philadelphia, Collioa L 9o. 
New-Y»ik; and b^ liookiellrrs geneiallj in the Uoitca States. 

1828 . 


''' 

BY DANIEL ADAMS, A. M. 

\uthor of the Scholar’s Arithmetick, &c.' 


Eltvenih 

3$o£(ton: 























AECOIffMSNDATIOKS. 


SJearSlff Prince Eduard, (Pa.) yuneiC,l9lQ^ 

I have given Adams' Geography acareful perusal,and am happy to have it in my power to $af, 
that it very far exceeds any work of the kind that has hiiherto coni'* under my observation. 1 
was so much pleased to have ii in my power to recommend so valuable a school book to student* 
in geography, that in order to introduce it into more common use, I took the liberty of putting it 
into the hands of Rev. Mr. Lyle, an emfnent judge .'f such a work, wno is in the constant habit of 
teaching gei)g*aphy, 'hat I might obtain his recommendation ciso. 

Mr. Lyle gives me liberty to state in bis behalf, that it is so far superior to any other work of 
the kind hitherto seen by him, that so suon as he tan arrange the classes of bis school for its 
reception, and procure a sufficient number of c'lpies, he will jntroducc it into ais school. If these 
candid observations are calculated in your opinion, to give this valuable stranger a more general 
introduction, as well as more welcome reception in the schools and families in your neighbour* 
hood, make use of them for the purpose. Yours, T. A. STEfHENSON. 


Philadelphia, June o, j810. 

The Geography by Daniel Adams, A. M. as far as my judgment extends, is one of the happiest of 
efforts for imparting profit, popularity, and pleasure to the science it teaches. The accentuation of 
difficult words in the first part, is as necessary and useful as the outlines to be committed to niem- 
«ry in the second part, are select and judicious. In part the third the Author has avoided servility 
in copying from the works of others, and in a style neat and attractive, has exhibited the state of 
Nations and Cities, not as they presented, themselves in the last or former centuries, but as they 
now exist. The work discovers the extensive reading of the Author, and a felicit>^ of talent in 
fixing on the facts'wbich are best calculated to inform and edify. I wish the work a very '>»ten» 
sive circulation. willIaw oxAUGHTON. 

DISTRICT OF MASSACHUSETTS, t9V>it: 

Dhtrict Clerk*/ Office. 

BE IT REMEMBERED, That on the twenty-first day of May, A. D. 1816, in the 
fortieth year Zf the Independence of the United States of America, Lincoln & Edmand* 
ef the said district, have deposited In this office the title of a Book, the tight whereof they cloiw 
as Proprietors, in the words following, to wit: 

Geography s or a Dotcrlptlon of the ■World. In three Parts. Part I.—Geographical Ortbogro* 
phy, divided and accented. Part II.—A Grammar of Geography, to be coiqmitted to memory. 
Part III.—A Description of the Earth, Manners and Customs of the Inhabitants, Manufactures, 
Commerce, Government, Natural and Artificial Curiosities, &c. to be read in Classes. Accompa¬ 
nied with an Atlas. To which is added. An easy method of constructing Maps, illustrated by 
Plates. For the use of Schools and Academies. By Daniel Adams, A. M. Author of the Scbolat's 
Arithmetick, &C. 

In Conformity to the Act of the Congress of the United States,entitled, An Act for the 
encouragement of Leaning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts and Books, to the Author* 
■nd Proprietors of sucA copies during the times therein mentioned and alto to an Act entitled* 

An Act supplem^tary ta-an Act, entitled. An Act for the Encouragement of Learning, by se- 
(uting the Copies df Maps, Charts and Books to the Authors and Proprietors of such Conies during 
(be times therein mentioned : and extending the Benefits thereof to the Arts of VeiLfiDg, En» 
graVing and Etching Hittoiical, and otberYrints.” 

J. W, DAVIS, Cltrk of the Di^rictof-Mattacliuiftl/, 



PREFACE. 


Geography can be successful! j studied only by the use 
tof maps. The natural and artificial divisions of the earth, 
the courses of rivers, and the relative position of cities 
and towns, are mechanical in their nature as much so as 
the letters of the alphabet ; and any attempt to communi¬ 
cate a knowledge of these objects by verbal descriptions, 
only, without the use of maps or aii artificial globe, is as 
absurd as would be an attetnpt to learn a child to write, 
by verbal dissertations on the shapes of the several let¬ 
ters, without exhibiting a copy of them before him. 

Hence the treatise here presented to the publick is ac¬ 
companied with an Atlas, between which and the book 
there is an intimate relation. It is from the Atlas that 
the boundaries of countries, the direction of the principal 
ranges of mountains, the courses and theoutletsof rivers, 
and generally the situation of towns, &c. are intended to 
be learnt 5 the names of which in the book are printed 
in Ita/ic characters, as a standing admonition to the pupil, 
whenever they occur, to consult his maps ;—all which 
may be seen explained more at large in a Note, page 19. 

The book is exhibited in three distinct parts, and yet form¬ 
ing one connected whole ; which peculiar feature every 
instructer, it is presumed, will with pleasure recognize, 
In the first part the pupil acquires the spelling and the 
pronunciation of the names of those kingdoms, countries, 
mountains, rivers, seas, lakes, islands, &c. which in the 
two succeeding Parts are more particularly to engage his 
attention ; and it is important that he be able correctly 
to pronounce and to spell the words it contains. 

The second part contains the principles of Geography 
in the most plain, concise and natural language, much on 
the plan of Goldsmith and Guy, and is that part designed 
to be committed to memory. 

The third part is a further illustration of the same sub¬ 
jects, together with a particular account of the climate, 
soil, productions, manufactures, commerce, manners, cus¬ 
toms, religion, government, curiosities, &c. of all the 
principal kingdoms and states in the known world, design¬ 
ed for reading in private^ or by classes in schools. 

This distinction between what is to be learned by heart, 
and what is designed for reading only, made by the second 
and third Parts, it is presumed will meet the approbation 



IV 


PREFACE 


of every teacher, more especially of those who have been 
perpU xed wilh the difficuify of selecting for their pupils 
the portions fo be committed to tnemory. 

Different methods may be proper for pupils of differ¬ 
ent ages, and something must always be left to the discre¬ 
tion of the instriicter. Thtise instructers who prefer it, 
can direct the 'fhird Part to be read in connexion with 
the study of each article of the Grammar, and the ques¬ 
tions on the Maps. For instance, when the pupil shall 
have committed and recited what is said of “ The World,” 
in the Grammar, he may then read of the same in the 
Third Part; after which he will be prepared for the study 
of the “Questions on the Map of the VVorld.” And thus 
proceed with the other divisions of the work. 

The “ Directions for the Construction of Maps” are 
so plain and easy, and the exercise in itself so important 
to every student of Geography, that they ought not to be 
neglected. 

A description of the Globes, and various problems for 
the exercise of the i^^arner, are added to the work to ren¬ 
der ii more complete. 

Boston, Jan. 1818 . 


ADVERTISEMENT TO THE SEVENTH ADDITION. 

But few alterations have been made to the different editions of 
this Geography ; but now, after a lapse of nine years, a general re- 
Tisai has been thought to be necessary in order to embrace later 
changes and more recent information. In doing this the second 
part has neen enlarged, and the third or reading part, variously 
modified. We are aware that these alterations will occasion some 
difficulty with classes in using this as a reading book with former 
editions, and they will hereafter be avoided so far as is possible 
with our duty of being correct 

A distinguishing feature of this work is the Third Part^ so emi¬ 
nently fitted for a reading book in classes. It is a kind of narra¬ 
tive read with great interest and attention by children who have 
made, or who at the time, may be making geography a study. 

In relation to this part, a new, and as it is conceived, a very 
important improve’-'ent, is now introduced, for a knowledge of 
which, to avoid repetition, reference may be had to the prefatory 
note, page 97. 

A short sketch of Ancient Geography also is now introduced, for 
the convenience of those who may wish to extend their inquiries 
to this subject. 

3jbpt. 1,1823. 



CONTENTS. 


PART I. 

<a-eographical Or¬ 
thography, - - 

PART II. 

Grammar ol" Geog¬ 
raphy, - - - 

Geographical Defi¬ 
nitions, - - 

The World, - - 

AMERICA, - - 
N. America, - 
United States, 
Klaine, --- 
New-Hampshire, 
Vermont, - - 

Massachusetts, - 
Rhode-lsland, - 
Connecticut, ‘- 
New-York, - - 
New-Jersey, - - 

Peuusylvania, - 
Delaware, - - 

Maryland, - - 

Virginia, - - - 

North-Carolina, 
South-Carolina, 
Georgia, - - - 
Alabama, - - 
Missisippi, - - 

Louisiana, - - 
Florida, - - - 

Tennessee, - - 

Kentucky, - - 

Ohio, . - - 
Indiana, - - - 
Illinois, - - - 

Missouri, - - 

Michigan Ter. - 
Arkansaw Ter. - 
ilritish Possessions 
in N. America, 


Russian Settle¬ 
ments, - - 46 

Spanish America, ib. 
VVest Indies, - 47 

South America, 48 

EUROPE, - - 53 
tJreat Britain and 
Ireland, - - 54 

Lapland, - - 56 

Norway, - - - 57 

j Denmark, - - ib. 

Sweden, - - 58 

Russia, - - - 59 

Poland, - - - 6U 

Prussia, - - - ib. 

/'he Netherlands, 
or Holland, - 61 

France, - - _ - 62 

Germany, - - 63 

Austrian Uomin. 64 
Switzerland, - ib 
Spain, - - - 65 

Portugal, - - ib. 

Italy, - - - 66 

Ionian Republic, 67 
Turkey in Europe, ib. 
Summary of Eu- 


• rope, - - - 68 

ASIA, . - - 69 

Purkey in Asia, 70 
Russia in Asia, ib. 
Independent Tar¬ 
tary, - - - 71 

Persia, - - - ib. 

Arabia, - - 72 
India, * - 73 

Ilindostan, - ib. 


Farther India—Bir¬ 
man Empire, &c. 74 
Chinese Empire, ib.i 
A 2 


13 

ib. 

19 

20 
ib. 
21 

23 

24 
26 
ib 

27 

28 
29 

31 

32 
ib. 

33 
ib. 

35 

36 

37 
ib 

38 

39 
ib. 

40 

41 
ib. 

42 

43 
ib 

44 
ib. 

45 


Empire of Japan, 75 
Asiatic Islands, ib. 
Australasia, - - 76 

Polynesia, - - ib. 

Summary of Asia, ib. 

AFRICA, - - 77 
Summary of Afri¬ 
ca, - - - 78 
Summary of the 
Population of 
the World, - ib. 
Questions on Map 
of the World, 79 

—on N. America, 81 
—on Unit. States, 83 


— on 

New Engl. 

85 

—on 

S. America, 

87 

—on 

Europe, 

89 

—on 

British Isles, 

92 

—on 

Asia, - - 

93 

—on 

Africa, 

95 


PART III. 


The 

World, 

97 

America, - - 

99 


United Slates, - 100 
New England, - 111 
Maine, - - - 112 
New-llampshire, 114 
Vermont, - - 116 

Ma.®sachuselts, 118 
Rhode-lsland, 123 
Connecticut, - 124 

New-York, - 127 

New-Jersey, - 132 

Pennsylvania, - 133 

Delawait*, - 136 

Maryland, - 138 

I list. Columbia, 139 
Virginia, - - 141 

North Carolina, 145 







VI 


CONTENTS 


South-Carolina, 

147 

Georgia, - - 

150 

Alabama, - - 

152 

Missjsippi, - - 

ib. 

I-ouisiana, - - 

154 

Florida, - • 

155 

Tennessee, 

158 

Kentucky, 

159 

Ohio, - - - 

16i 

Indiana, - - 

164 

Illinois, . - 

165 

Missouri,- - - 

16b 

Michigan Ter. 

ib. 

Arkansaw Ter. 

167 

British Possessions 

in N, America, 

168 

New Britain, 

ib. 

Canada, - - 

ib. 

New Brunswick and 

JNova-Scotia, 

17'. 

Newfoundland, 

172 

Cape Breton, 

ib. 

Prince Edward’s 


Island, - . 

173 

Bet rnu !as, - - 

ib 

Mexico, or New 


Spain, - - 

ib. 

Greenland, 

175 

West-Indies, - 

176 

Cuba, - - - 

179 

Hispaniola, or St. 

Domingo, 

ib 

Jamaica, 

180 

Porto-Rico, 

ib. 

Caribbee Islands, 

ib. 

Bahama Islands, 

181 

Turk’s Island, - 

ib 

South America 

ib. 

Republic of Colom- 

bia, - - - 

185 

Peru, - - - 

187 


Chili, . - - 189 

United Province of 
South America, 190 
Brazil, - - - 19‘2 
English, Dutch, & - 
French Guiana, 195 
Unconquered Coun- 


tries, - - 

197 

Islands, - - - 

ib. 

Europe - . 

198 

England, - - 

199 

Wales, - - - 

204 

Scotland, - . 

ib 

Ireland, - - 

206 

Lapland, - > 

207 

Norway, - - 

209 

Denmark, . . 

211 

Sweden, - - 

216 

Russia, - - 

2 >9 

Poland, - . 

225 

Prussia, - - 

ib. 

Netherlands, - 

227 

France, - - 

230 

Germany, 

234 

Austrian Domin. 

237 

Switzerland, 

240 

Spain, - - 

243 

Portugal, - . 

247 

Italy - - - 

249 

Turkey in Eur. 

253 

Asia, - . - 

256 

Turkey in Asia, 

257 

Russia in Asia, 

260 

Indep. Tartary, 

261 

Persia, . - - 

ib. 

Arabia, - - - 

263 

Hindustan, - - 

266 

Birman Empire, 

27U 

Malacca, . - 

271 


Siam, ... 272 
Laos and Cambo¬ 
dia, ... 273 

( ochin-China, and 
Tonquin, • ib. 
Chinese Empire, 274 
Chinese Tartary, 277 
Tibet, - - - ib. 

Empire of Japan, ib. 
Asiatic Islands, - 280 
Isles of Sunda, ib. 
Borneo, - - 281 

Manillas, or Philip¬ 
pine Islands, ib. 
Celebes, • - 282 

Moluccas, or Spice 
Islands, - - ib. 

Australasia, - 283 
Polynesia, - 284 

Africa - - - 286 
Barbary States, ib. 
Egypt, ... 289 
East Africa, - 292 
Abyssinia, - - 293 

Countries south of 


Abyssinia, - 294 
South Africa, - 296 

Colony of Cape of 


Good Hope, 

ib. 

West Africa, 

297 

Coast of Guinea, 

ib. 

Interior of Afri- 

ca, . - - 

299 

African Islands, 

300 

Sketch of Ancient 

Geography, 

303 

Construction of 

Maps, - - 

313 

On the Globes, 

317 

Table of Longi- 

tude, - . 

324 


DIRECTIONS TO THE BINDER. 


plate I. 
„ II. 


To face page 




,313. 

316. 


»5 









GEOGRAPHICAIi ORTHOGRAPHY. 


A DIFFICULT word occurring in a lesson, of which a child 
does not know the just pronunciation, or the sound of which is 
not familiar to his ear, always renders his task much more tedi¬ 
ous, and not uufrequently defeats his purpose altogether. Most 
of such words, therefore, occurring in this Geography, are here 
collected together, rfrcided and acccn/erf, with a view that they 
should be taught the pupil, not only till he can read, but like¬ 
wise till he can spell (hem correctly. In this way his future 
progress in committing his lessons, will not only be greatly facili¬ 
tated, but he will also, at the same time, acquire a knowledge of 
the orthography, or correct spelling ol (he names of places, where¬ 
in too many persons are found deficient, even after having com¬ 
pleted their education. 

After the pupil shall have gone through with his geography, 
this vocabulary will be found extremely convenient for another 
important purpose, that of a review of all the principal subjects ; 
for then to the spelling of the word, he ma-> be called upon to 
adil such a description of the place or thing as his geography far^ 
nishes. 

Kingdoms^ States^ Countries^ &c. 


A mer' i ca 

Chi' li 

Ger' ma ny 

A' sia 

Co lum' bi a 

Green' land 

Af ri ca 

Cal i for' ni a 

Guin' ea 

Aus' tri a 

Cor' si ca 

Gra na' da 

Agger buys 

Am a zo' ni a 

Co' chin-Chi' na 
Chi' na 

Hoi' land 

Hung' a ry 

Hill dos' tan 

Aus tral a' sia 

Cam bo' di a 

Ar me' ni a 

Cat a lo' ni a 

In di an' a 

A ra' bi a 

Co ro man' del 

It’ a ly 

Ab ys sin' i a 

Con' go 

Dron' theim 

11 li nois' 

An da lu' si a 

Ire' land 

As tu' ri a 

Del' a ware 

In' di a 

Ar' a gon 

Den' mark 

Ir kutsk' 

A1 giers' 

Don go' la 

Ja' va 

A' uel, 

Dar-Fur 

Ja pan' 

A' jan 

Da ho' mey 

Ken tuck' y 

An go' la 

Eu' rope 

Eng' land 

Lap' land 

Bra zil' 

Lou is i an' a 

Bu e' nos Ay' res 

E' gypt 

Es' tre ma du' ra 

La' os 

Bei' gen 

Lo an' go 

Bran' den burg 

Es' qui maux 

Lab ra dor' 

Ba va' ri a 

Flor' i da 

Mas sa chu', setts 

Bo he' mi a 

Flan' ders 

Ma' ry land 

Bir' man 

Bar' ba ry 

Ben gal' 

Fin' land 

Fran co' ni a 

Mis si sip' pi 

Mich i gau' * 

Fries' land 

Mfcx' i CO 

Bu cha' ri a 

Groti in gen 

Ma lac' ca 

Bar' ca 

Gueld' er land 

Mai' ta 

Ben gu e' la 

Geor' gi a 

Gill an' a 

Mai' a bar 

Be uin 

Mo zara bique' 

Can' a da 

Gr# at-Urit' ain 

North-Car o li' na 

Cor uect' i cut 

Goth' laud 

New-JeF sey 



s 


GEOGRAPHICAL ORTHOGRAPHY* 


New-Hamp' shife 
New-Bruns' wick 
New-Gra na' da 
Nor' way 
NeW'York 
NeW'Brit' ain 
No' va-Sco' tia 
Nil' bi a 
Na to' ii a 
Na varre' 

Nelh' er lands 
O hi' o 
O ver ys' sel 
Pe ru' 

Pat a go' ni a 
Port' u gal 
Pom c ra' ni a 
Penn syl va' ni a 
Prus' sia * 

A1 leg' ha ny 
Ap' en nines 
Ar' a rat 
At' las 

Ag a meat' i cus 
A' thos 
An' des 
Al' lay 

Ap a lach' i an 
Ben-Ne' vis 
Blue ridge 
Chim bo ra' zo 
Car pa' thi an 
Cau ca' sus 


An dros cog' gin 
Ap a la chic' o la 
Am o noo' suck 
Al a ba' ma 
Ad' ige 
A' mur 
Am' a zon 
Ap po mat' tox 
Al ta ma' ha 
Ar' kan saw 
Bra' VO 

Bur ram poo' ter 
Bran' dy-wine 
Cum' ber land 
Con nect' i cut 
Con' too cook 
Chow' an 
Coo' sa 


Per' sia 
Po ly ne' sia 
Pal' es tine 
Rus' sia 
Rhode-Isl' and 
South-Car o li' na 
Scot' land 
Swe' den 
Swit' zer land 
Si le' si a - 
Sax' o ny 
Syr' i a 
Si' am 
Swa' bi a 
Sar din' i a 
Sic' i ly 
Sies' wick 
Si be' ri a 
Ten ncs see' 

Mountains. 

Cum' ber land 
Do' fra feld 
Et' na 

Gram' pi an 
Ho' reb 
Hec' la 
Hae' mus 
I'da 

Kit ta tin' ny 
Lib' a nus 
Mo nad' nock 
O lyin' pus 
Pin' dus 
Pyr' e nees 

Rivers. 

Chic' a pee 
Chop tank 
Ca ya bo' ga 
Church', ill 
Chau di ere' 

Del a ware 
Deer' field 
Du' na 
Dau' ube 
Dnies' ter 
Dou' ro 
Diiic' per 
Dwi' na 
E dis' to 
E ni sei' 

Eu phra' tes 
E' bro 

Es se qui' bo 


Tar' ta ry 
Ton' quin 
Tu' nis 
Ti' bet 
Trip' o li 
Tu^ key - 
To bolsic' 

U ni' ted State f 
U' trecht 
Vir gin' i a 
Ver mont' 

Ven e zu e' la 
West In' dies 
Ward buys 
West pha' li a 
Wir' tern burg 
Zea' land 
Zan que bar 


Par nas' sus 
Snow' don 
Sto' ny 

St. Goth' ard ‘ 
Si' nai 
Tau' rus 
Ten e rifle' 

Ta' ble 
U ra' li an 
Ve su' vi us 
Wash' ing ton 
Wa chu' sett 
W'hite 


Gen cs see' 

Gar onne' 

G uad i an' a 
Gan' ges 
Gam' bi a 
Guad al quiv' er 
Hack' in sack 
Ho ang-Ho 
Hud' son 
Hock hock' ing 
Hum' ber 
II li nois' 

Ir ra wa' dy 
In' dus- 
Ir' tish 
Ju ni a' ta 
Ji' hon 
Jap an ese' 


GEOGRAPHICAL ORTHOGRAPHY 


9 ' 


Ken ne beck' 
Kan ha wa' 

Ken tuck' y 
Kas kas' ki a 
Ki ang' 

La naoille' 

Le' na 
La Pla' ta 
Lick' ing 
Mis si sip' pi 
Mer' ri mack 
Mi chis' coui 
Mo' hawk 
Alis sou' ri 
Mo non ga he' la 
Alo' bile 
Mi am' i 
Ale' zen 
ATus king' um 
Me heP nn 
Alex i ca' no 
Min' ho 
Mei' nam 
Ale' mel 
Mer' soy 
Nash' u a 
Nan ti coke' 

Nel' son 
Nie men 
Ni' ger 
Ni ag' a ra 
Ot' ter 


Ar' ol 
Bai kal' 

Con stance' 
Cham plain' 

Ca nan da' qua 
Cha taque' 
E'rie 

Ge ne' va 
H u' ron 
II' men 
La do' ga 
Loch Lo raond' 
Lu cern' 

At Ian' tic 
Ar chi pel' a go 
A dri at' ic 
A' zof 
A ra' bi a 
At pbal' tee 


O hi' o 
O ge chee' 

On' ion 
O sage' 

O ri no' co 
O' der 

Ou is con' sin 
O ne' ga 
Pis cat' a qua 
Pas sa' ick 
Po co moke' 

Pe dee' 

Poo soom' suck 
Pa tuck' et 
Pe nobs' cot 
Po tow' mack 
Paw tux' et 
Pa tux' ent 
Pe taps' co 
Per di' do 
Par a guay' 

Pet cho' ra 
Pen sa co' la 
Pre' gel 

Kap pa han' nock 
Ro a noke' 

Rar i tan 
St. Lawrence 
Sa van' nah 
Staun' ton 
Sus que han' nah 
Se bas' ti cook 

Lakes. 

Mas sa be' sic 
Mau' re pas 
Mich i gan' 

Moose head 
Mem phre ma' gog 
Ma ra cai' bo 
Mo ra' vi 
Ni ca rag' u a 
O nei' da 
O non da' ga 
O ne' ga 
On ta' ri o 
Os we' go 

Oceans and Seas. 
Bal' tic 
Ca rib' be an 
Casp' i an 
Chi nese' 

Ger' man 
Jap' an 


Schuyl' kill 
Sa' CO 
San' tee 
Strap ford 
She nan do'afa 
St. Ma' ry 
Sci o' to 
Shan' non 
St. Fran' cis 
So lelle' 

Sev' ern 
Si' hon 
San dusk' y 
St. P’ran cis' c» 
Sen e gal' 

Ten nes see' 

TaJ a poo' sa 
Tom bee' bee 
The' is 
Ti' gris 
Tip pa canoe' 

Ti' ber 
Ta' gus 
U' ta was 
Vol' ga 
Vis' tu la 
W’a' bash 
West' field 
We' ser 
Ya zoo' 

Yo hog' a ny 
Yangt' so 

Os' sa pee 
PaP i ma 
Pon char train 
Su pe' ri or 
Sun a pee' 

Sen' e ca 
Tit i cac' a 
Um' ba gog 
Win' ni peg 
Win ni ba' go 
Win ni pis e og' ee 
We' ner 
Zu' rich 

Med' i ter ra' ne an. 
Alar mo' ra 
O chotsk' 

Ska' ger-Rack 
Yel' low 


GEOGRAPHICAL ORTHOGRAPHY 


Id 


Gulfs and Bays» 
Ap a lach' y 
Baf fin’s 
Buz' zard’s ^ 

Bis' cay 
Both'm a 
Ches' a peak 
Cas' CO 
Cal i for' ni a 
Cam peach' y 
Chal eur' 

Del' a ware 
En gi' a 
Fin' land 
Fun' dy 
Gua ya quil' 

Guin' ea 
Hon du' ras 
Hud' son’s 
Le pan' to 
Lo ren' zo 
Mex' i |:o 
Mas sa chu' setts 
Ma chi' as 
Mo' Dile 
Nar ra gan' set 
Pla cen' tia 
Per' sia 

Pas sa ma quod' dy 
Pen sa co' la 
Pa na' ma 
Hi' ^a 
iSt. Ito' sa 

An gle sea' 

An da' man 
An ti' gua 
A leu' tian 
An' na boa 
A zo' res 
A' land 
Ber mu' da 
Bar ba' does 
Ba ha' ma 
Bop ne o 
BouP bon 
Cu' ba 
Cap i bee 
Chi lo' e ' 

Ce pha lo' ni a 
Cape-Bret' on 
Can' di a 
Ca n6n' i cut 
CoP fu 


Sa Ion' i chi 
Si' dra 

St. Law' rence 
St An' drews 
Si' am 
Ton' quin 
Ta' ble 
Ta ren' to 
Ven ice 
Zui' dcr-zee 

Sounds* 
Albe marie' 
Long-Isl' and 
Pam' li co 

Straits, 

Bell isle' 

BheP ing’s 
Bon i fa' ci o 
Ba bel man' del 
Caf' fa 
Cat' te gal 
Con Stan ti no' pie 
T)a' yis’R 
Do' ver 
Dar da nelles' 

Gib ral' ter 
Lit tle-Belt 
Mes si' na 
Ma gel' Ian 
Ma lac' ca 
Sun' da 

Islands. 

Cey' Ion 
Cel' e bes 
Cap o line 
Ca na< ry 
Co mo' ro 
CoP si ca 
Dom i ni' ca 
Da/ go 
Falk' land 
FeP roe 
For mo' sa 
Fer nan' do-Po 
Gra na' da 
Guern' sey 
Gau da loupe' 
Great-Bril' ain 
Goth' land 
Hy e' res 
His pan i o' la 
Heb' ri des 


Isthmuses,. 
Co rinth' 

Da' ri en 
Pre' cop 
Su' ez 

Capes. 

Beach'y 
Cora' o rin 
E Hz' a beth 
Fare well' 

Fin is terre' 
Guad a fuL' 

Hen' lo pen 
Hat' te ras 
Lo pat' ka 
Look out' / 
Liz' ard 
Mai' a car 
Mat' a pan 
Mon tauk' Point 
Ne' gro 
OP te gal 
Port' land 
Pop poise 
Pern' a quid 
Pa' los 
St. Da' vid’s 
St. Ed mands 
St. Lu' cas 
Sa'ble 

St. Vin' cent 


Hain' an 
Ire' land 
Ice' land 
Iv' i ca 
Ja mai' ca 
Ju an-Fer nan' des 
•Ja' va 
JeP sey 
Ki u sui' 

Ku' rile 
Lip' a ri 
Lac' ca dive 
La drone' 

Lee oo-Kee' oo 
Mai' dive 
Man hat' tan 
Mar ti ni/ co 
Ma joP ca 
Mai' ta 

Mount-De sert 


GEOGRAPHICAL ORTHOGRAPHY. 


11 


'!Mi nor' ca 
Mad a gas' car 
Ma dei' ra 
Mo luc' cas 
Mar que sas' 

M ich il li mak' ki nak 
Kew' found land 
Nan tuck' et 
Ni co' bar 
No gro pont' 

Ni' phon 
New-Hol' land 
New-Brit' ain 
New Zca' land 
Hew-Heb' ri des 
New-Guin' ea 
New-Ire' land 


New-Cal e do' ni a 
Nav i ga' tor’s 
Oe' sel 
Ork' ney 
O le' ron 
Oe' land 
O fa heite' 

Port' o Ri' CO 
Pe' lew 
Pap' u an 
Phil' ip pine 
Ru' gen 
Shet' land 
Sar din' i a 
St. Lu' cia 
Sic' i ly 
Scil' ly 

Towns. 


Aix-la-Chap' elle 
Au gus' ta 
Am' herst 
Al' ba ny 
Am' boy 
Ac a pul' CO 
Am ster dam' 
Arch an' gel 
Ab' er deen 
A' bo 

As tra chan' 

A' va 

A dri a no' pie 
A lop' po 
Al ex an' dri a 
Ath' ens 
As sump' tion 
Ar a qui' pa 
An nap' o lis 
Am boy' 

A cheen' 

Ant' werp 
A zof' 

Ben' ning ton 
Bur' ling ton 
Brat tie bor' ough 
Bel' fast 
Balt' i more 
Bruns' wick 
Beau' fort 
Bres' law 
Bran' den burg 
Bu e' nos-Ay' res 
Ber' gen 
Ber' lin 
Bir' miiig ham 


Ba' sil 
Bil bo' a 
Bel grade' 

Ba va' res 
Bour deaux' 

Ba yonne' 

Brus' sels 
Bar ce lo' na 
Bag' dad . 
Buch' a rest 
Browns ville' 

Ban gor' 

Ben coo' len 
Ba fa' vi a 
Cas fine' 

Car lisle' 

Charles' ton 
Co logne' 

Con' cord 
Charles' town 
Co lum' bi a 
Cu ma' na 
Cal' mar 
Ct>r do' va 
Ca yenne' 

Co pen ha' gen 
Cin cin na' ti 
Car tha ge' na 
Chris ti an' a 
Carls cro' na 
Cher* son 

Con Stan ti no' pie 
Cra' COW 
Cal t ut' ta 
Cash' mere 
Can' ton 


Su ma' tra 

50 ci' e ty 
St. Hel' e na 
Sag ha' li en 
Sand' wich 

51 kohf' 

Sol' o mon 
Sta' ten 

St. Bar thol' o mew 
St. Uo ming' o 
Trin i dad' 

To ba' go 
Ter ra del-Fu c' go 
Tex' el 
U shant' 

Walch' e ren 
Zea' land 

Cai' ro 
Cash' gar 
"Chi li co' the 
Co lum' bo 
Cag li a' ri 
Dron' theim 
De troit' 

Dant' zic 
Del' hi 
Dres' den 
Da mas' cus 
Da mi et' fa 
' Di ar be' kir 
Dar bent’ 

Ex' e ter 
Ed' en ton 
Ed' in burgh 
El' bing 
El se neur' 

Fal' mouth 
Fa' yette ville 
Frank' fort 
Flop ence 
Fred' er icks burg 
Flush' ing 
George' town 
Got' ten burg 
Gom broon' 

Ge no' a 
Gu a man'ga 
Glas' gow 
Gol con' da 
Glouce' ster 
Han' o ver 
Hal' low ell 
Ha' ver hill 


12 


geograpiAoal orthography 


Ham' burg 
Ha van' na 
Hal'J fax 
Haer' lem 
Had' dam 
Ips' wich 
Ir kutsk' 

Is' pa ban 
Je ru' sa lem 
Jed' da 
Jed' do 
Kas kas' ki a 
Kings' ton 
Knox' ville 
Ko' nigs burg 
Kol' i van 
Lou' is ville 
Lew' is town 
Lan' cas ter 
Liv' er pool 
Lon don der' ry 
Ley' den 
Lira'er ick 
Lon' don 
Leip' sic 
Las' sa 
Leg' horn 
Lan sanne' 

Lex' ing ton 
Li' ma 

Lan' sing burgh 
La hore' 

Ma chi' as 
^^d' die bu ry 
Mil' ledge ville 
Mont pe' lier 
Mar ble head' 
Men do'za 
Mgs' cow 
Ma‘ri el' ta 
Mex' i CO 
Mar a cai' bo 
Mag' de burg 
Me di' na 
Ma dras* 

Mu' nich 
Mai' a ga 
Mi' lan 
Mec' ca 
Me/ eba 
Ma coa' 

Mon te-Vid' e o 
Mont re al' 

Mar seilles' 

Moor shed' a bad' 


Mo hi'lew 
New bu ry port' 
New-Lon' don 
New' ark 
New cas' tie 
New' bern 
North- Yar' mouth 
New' bu ry 
New-Bruns' wick 
New-Bed' ford 
North amp' ton 
New-Ha' ven 
Natch' es 
Nash' ville 
New-Or' leans 
New-Mad' rid 
Nan ga sa' ki 
Na' pies 
Nan' kin 
Nag' pour 
O port' o 
Os we' go 
O ne' ga 
Port' land 
Phil la del' phi a 
Pe' ters burg 
Pough keep' sie 
Pitts' burg 
Ports' mouth 
Plym' outh 
Prince' ton 
Pen sa co' la 
Par i mar' i bo 
Po to' si 
Pa ler' mo 
Pres' burg 
Pe' gu 
Pru' sa 
Pe' kin 
Pal my' ra 
Platts' burg 
Pon di cher' ry 
Pots' dam 
Qui' to 
Que bee' 

Qui o' la 
Rich' mond 
Ra' leigh 
Rut' land 
Ri'ga 

Rot' ter dam ' 

Re' vel 
Ro chelle' 

Rou' en 

Roch' fort 


Ro set' ta 
Ran goon' 

She nec' ta dy 
Spring' field 
Sa van' nah 
St. Ge ne vi' eve 
San ta Fe' 

St Au gus tine' 
Stel' ing 
Se ville' 

Smyr' na 
Sa mar' cand 
Shi' ras 
Sa' na 

Se ring a pa' tam 
Stut' gard 
Sar a gos' sa 
Sa Ion' i chi 
Su rat' 

Stock' holm 
Smo' lensk * 
St. Sal va doP 
Sur i nam' 

Sy ra cuse* 

Tren' ton 
Trux il' lo 
Tu' la 
Tor' ne a 
To bolsk' 

Ton' louse 
Tou' Ion 
Tom buc/ too 
Tran' que bar 
Um me ra poo' ra 
Up' sal 
U trecht' 

Ver gennes' 

Vin cennes' 

Ve' ra-Cruz 
Valparaiso 
Vi en' na 
Ven' ice 
Va len' cia 
Worce' ster 
Wis cas' set 
Wal' pole 
Wil' ming ton 
Wash' ing ton 
Wy' burg 
Wa' ter ford 
War' saw 
Yar' mouth 
Ya kutsh' 

Zu' rich 
Zei' 1^ 



OF 


GEOGRAPHY. 


t- DEFINITIONS. 

Geography is a description of the surface of the earth, 
the constituent parts of which are land and water. 

THE LAND 

Is divided into continents, islands, peninsulas,isthmuses, 
capes or prooiontories, mountains, and shores or coasts. 

A Continent is the largest extent of land containing 
many countries, and no where entirely separated by wa¬ 
ter. The continents are two ; the jEaster}i^ containing 
Europe^ Asiu^ and ^ifrica^ and the Wtstern^ containing 
North and South America. 

An Island is a po''tion of land surrounded by water 5 
as Newfoundland^ Cuba., Madagascar, 

• A Peninsula is a portion of land almost surrounded 
by water 5 as Spain. 

An Isthmus is a neck of land joining a peninsula to a 
continent or main land ; as the Isthmus of Darien^ which 
unites North and South America: 

A Cape is a point of land extending far into the sea; as 
the Cape of Good Hope ; if tlie land be high and moun¬ 
tainous, it is called a Promontory. 

A Shore or Coast is that land which borders on the sea. 

A Mountain is a vast protuberance of the earth. If a 
mountain emit smoke and flame, it is called a Volcano. 
The aperture or pit from wliich the smoke issues, and 
from whence cinders and red hot stones are sometimes 
ejected, is called a C^tATER. 

Lava is the melted matter that boils over at the time ' 
of an eruption, and which sometimes flows in such copi¬ 
ous streams as to overwhelm whole cities in its course. . 

Minerals are all substances dug out of mines, of what¬ 
ever kind ; as metals, coal, sulphur, ochre, tkc. 


14 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


THE WATER 

Is divided into oceans, seas, lakes, gulfs or bays, havens, 
or harbours, straits, channels, sounds, roads, rivers, and 
friths or estuaries. 

An Ocean is the largest extent of water, no where en¬ 
tirely interrupted by land. There are usually reckoned 
four oceans ; viz. the Pacific^ Atlantic^ Indian^ and 
Arctic. Aecf, or Frozen Ocean. 

A Sea is a small extent of water, somewhat confined 
by land, but comniunicating with the onjean ; as i\\^ Med¬ 
iterranean Sea. If a sea be interrupted by a great num¬ 
ber of islands, it is sometimes called an Archipelago. 

A Lake is a large collection of fresh water in the inte¬ 
rior of a country ; as Lake Superior. 

A Gulf or Bay is a part of the sea extending up into 
the land ; as the Gidf of Mexico, 

A Haven or Harbour is a small portion of the sea 
almost surrounded by land, yvhere ships may ride safely 
at anchor. 

A Strait is a narrow passage of water out of one sea 
into attother 5 as the Strait of Gibralier, 

A Channel is a passage of water from one sea to an¬ 
other, but wider than a Stiait ; as the British Channel. 

A Sound is a Strait so shallow ihat it may be sounded. 

A Creek is a narrow branch of the sea, running up 
into the land. Branches of rivers are sometimes called 
Creeks. 

A Road is a part of the coast where ships may anchor. 

A River is a cotisiderable stream of inland water run¬ 
ning into some sea, lake, or other river. 

A Frith or Estuary is the widening of a river at its 
mouth into an arm qf the sea ; as that of the river Ama¬ 
zon. 

A large body of water tumbling over a precipice is 
called a Cat aract 01 Falls. If the quantity of water 
be small, it is a Cascade. 

Standing water, and low sunken grounds full of trees, 
shrubs, grass and mire, are called Morasses, Bogs, Fens, 
or, as more common in the United* States, Swamps. 


15 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 

A MAP is a representation of the earth, or any part 
of it upon paper or any plane surface. In general the 
top of a map is north, the bottom south, the right hand 
east, and tlie left hand west. Cities and towns are rep¬ 
resented by an °5 rivers^ by black lines, bending irregular¬ 
ly ; mountains, by dark' shades ; deserts, by clusters of 
small dots, boundaries of countries and states by dotted 
lines. 

The Axis of the earth is an imaginary line passing 
through its centre, from nor^iti to south, about which it 
revolves in 24 hours. Tne noi’thern extremity of this 
Axis is called the North Pole, and the southern extremi¬ 
ty the South Pole. 

The Equator, or Equinoctial Line, is an imaginary cir¬ 
cle surrounding the earth, from east to west, at an equal 
distance from the poles. 

A Hemisphere is half of a globe •, thus, the Equator 
divides the globe into two hemispheres, Northern and 
Southern. 

The Ecliptic is a great circle which crosses the 
equator obliquely, in two opposite points, called the 
Eq uinoxes. 

rhe Tropics are two circles drawn parallel to the 
equator, at 235"^ degrees distant from it. That on the 
north of the equator is called the Tropic of Cancer, that 
on the south, the Tropic of Capricorn. 

The Polar Circles are two small circles at the distance 
of 234 degrees from each pole. That about the north 
pole is called the Arctic, and that about the south pole, 
the Antarctic cii cle. 

There are usually reckoned five Zones or Belts of the 
earth j viz. one torrid, two temperate, and two frigid. 

The space between the two tropics is called the Torrid 
Zone, in every part of which the sup. is vertical twice a 
year, and of course the weather is always warm ; the two 
spaces between the tropics and the polar circles are call¬ 
ed the 'Temperate Zones ; and the two spaces between the 
polar circles and the poles are called the Frigid Zones. 

A Meridian is a great circle crossing the equator at 
right angles, and passing through the poles. Every place 
has its meridian, at which, when the sun arrives, it is 
noon at that place. 

A Degree is the 360th part of any circle. A degree 
of a great circle of the earth contains 60 geographical, 

^ The best modern authors say, 2c9 23'. 


16 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


or 69^ English miles. Each degree is divided into 60 
equal parts, called minutes ; and each minute into 60 
seconds. 

Degrees are usually marked with a smalt cipher over 
them (°), minutes with one dash ('), and seconds with two 
(") ; thus 23° 28' 16 " signify twenty-three degrees, twen- 
ty-eight minutes, and sixteen seconds. 

The Latitude of any place is its distance from the 
equator, either north or south, reckoning in degrees and 
minutes. 

The latitude of places upon maps is expressed by the 
figures which run up or down the sides. If the figures 
increase upwards, the latitude is north ; if they increase 
downwards, the latitude is south. The latitude of any 
place can never be more than 90, which brings us to the 
pole. 

The Longitude of any place is its distance east or west 
from some fixed meridian, reckoned in degrees and min¬ 
utes on the equator. 

The longitude of places upon maps is expressed by the 
figures at top and bottom. 

Longitude is reckoned 180 degrees, east or west from, 
any given meridian, which brings us to the sa»ne meridi¬ 
onal line on the opposite side of the earth. 

The Horizon is that circle which bounds the sight on 
all sides, where the earth and sky appear to meet. 

The Cardinal Points are the four principal points of 
the horizon, viz. East, "W^est, North, and South, often¬ 
times wTitten E. for east, W. for west, &c. 

The Atmosphere or Air, is a fine, invisible, elastic 
fluid, every where surrounding the earth, and extending 
some miles from its surface. 

Wind is air put in motion. The velocity of wind in a 
storm has been estimated at about 63 miles in an hour 5 
in a fresh gale, at 21 miles ; and in a gentle breeze, at 
about ten miles an hour. 

Winds may be divided into constant, periodical, and 
variable. 

Constant Winds blow alwaysin one direction. These 
prevail in the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans, under the e- 
quator, where there is a constant east wind. To about 
28° on the north of the equator, the wind blows constant¬ 
ly from the north east, and to as many degrees south, it 
blows from the south east. ThesQ are. also called Trop-» 
ical or General Trade Winds, 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


ir 


Periodical Winds blow half a year Thermometer. 
in one direction, and half a year in a 
contrary direction, and are called Mon¬ 
soons, or Shifting Trade Winds. 

These prevail chiedy in the Indian 
Ocean. 'Ther > from May to October, 
the wind blows from the south east, and 
during the rest of the year, from the 
north west, from three to ten degrees, 
south latjitude. 

In the Arabian Sea, and in the Ray of 
Bengal there is another Monsoon, blow¬ 
ing from Octoher to April, fiom the 
north-east, and during the other six 
months, from the south-west. The 
shifting of thes-*e winds is attended w'ith 
dreadful hurricanes. 

In the West-Indies, the winds blow 
from the land in the night, and fiom 
the sea during the ilay, clianging their 
direction everv twelve hours. 'These 
are culled Land and Ska Rkkkzes. 

Vauiable W iNDsare those whiich are 
subject to no regularity of duration or 
change. 

Climate, in its general acceptation, 
means tlie temperature of the air in 
any place. 

The Thermometer is an instrument for as¬ 
certaining the degree of heat or culd. 

Jt consists of a hollow lube of glass with 
a bulb at bottom filled with quicksilver, 
li eat causes all bodies to expiind ; cold caus¬ 
es them to contract. Consequently, as llie 
quieksilver in the huFb becomes contracted by 
cold, it sinks in the tube; on the other liand, 
as it hrcomes expanded by heat, it ri'ies, and 
thus points out iho degree of heat or culd. 

There are two important points in this instru¬ 
ment,—one, at which water freezes, marked 
S-"®—the other, at whicli water boils, marked 
22 The instrument is then divided into 
coirespondent equal parts. 'The cipher, or 
0, IS called zero. At about 4 )® below zero, 
quicksilver loses its fluidity, aud flecomes a sol¬ 
id body. 

B2 



: mi ATT 


90 a R 


^RLOO£ 
HEAT 






5(f 


J|0-g E 


SVM. 

HEAT 


















































18 


6RAMMAR OF GEdGHAPH't, 


Religion. The principal relipiions in tlie world are 
four ; the Pagan or Heathen, the Mahometan, the Jew^ 
ish, anil the Chrissiian. 

Paganism is the worship of id(^ and false gods. It is, 
as yet, the most extensive of all religions. 

Mahometanism is a system of religion devised by Ma¬ 
homet, sometimes called the false prophet, and is con¬ 
tained in a book called the Koran or Alcoran. The fol¬ 
lowers of this religion are called Musselmen, or Mahom¬ 
etans. 

Judaism is the religion of the Jews, who admit the au¬ 
thority of the Old Testament, but reject that of the New. 

Christianity is the religion taught by Christ and his A- 
postles, and is contained in the New Testament. It may 
be considered under three general divisions 5 Roman 
Catholic, Greek Church, and Protestant. , 

Roman Catholics, or Church of Rome, admit the su¬ 
premacy of the Pope, and are called Papists. 

The Greek Church resembles the Roman Catholic in 
its form and ceremonies, but denies the supremacy of the 
Pope. 

Protestants are so called from their protesting against 
the authority of the Church of Rome, at the time of the 
reformation, in the 16th century. They are divided in¬ 
to various denominations, as Presbyterians, Episcopalians, 
Congregationalists, Baptists, Methodists, Quakers, &c. 

Government. Tliere are but three elementary forms 
of government; Monarchy, Aristocracy, and Democracy. 

1 . Monarchy is a government exercised by one man. 
If he be under the restraint of law;«, it is called a limited 
monarchy ; if he be not under the restraint of laws, but 
govern according to his own will, it is called an absolute 
monarchy^ or despotism. 

2 . Aristocracy, or Oligarchy, is a government exer¬ 
cised by a small number of men, usually called the no¬ 
bility. 

3. Democracy is a government exercised by the whole 
body of the people. 

A Republic is a government exercised by a number of 
men chosen by the people for a limited time, Such is 
that of the United States. 


•RAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


19 



Note. Words italicized throughout the book, denote, that the 
places BO distinguished are exhibited on the MAPS in the Atlas, 
with which this book is accompanied, where, in every instaiwe, 
they should bo studied by the pupil. It is ther(3, a knowledge of 
the situation of places is to be acquired ; their latitude and lon¬ 
gitude, so far as is necessary these should be committed t»» mem¬ 
ory ; the boundaries of countries ; the rise and course of rivers > 
the countries and states through which the) flow ; the sens into 
which they empty ; all which, and various otlicr thinijs of this na¬ 
ture, are studied to much better purpose on a map than learnt 
from a book. 


The world or earth is a lar^e globe, the diameter of 
which is nearly e.iy;Itt thousand miles, and its surface con- 
tains nearly 200 millions of square miles. 

It is 96 millions of miles from the sun, about which it 
revolves once a year ^ and turns round on its own axis 
every day. 

'I he earth is generally divided into four unequal parts, 
called quarters ; Europe^ Asicu »^frica^ and Jimtrua. 

Europe is the smallest division, hui is distinguished for 
its learning, pollter.ess, government and laws ; for the 
industry of its inhabitants, and the tempei’uture of its cli¬ 
mate. It is the only quarter of the globe which has yet 
been fully explored and known. 

In Abia^ the human race was first planted, and there 
the most remarkable transactions occurred, which are re¬ 
corded in scri|)ture history. 

Africa has been always in a state of barbarism, if we 
except the Kgyptians, those ancient fathers of learning, 
and Carthage, once tlie rival of tin* Koinaa Empire. 

America was unknown to the inhabitants of the other 
continent, till a little more than three hundred years 
ago, when it was discovered by Christopher Columbus ^ 
and hence it is frequently called the New World, in con- 
tr.idistinction to t)ie Eastern Continent, lirst known, and 
thence called tlie Old World. 


w 


GRAMMAR OF GEOORAPffY/ 



Is supposed to contain upwards of 14 millions of square 
miles, and about 35 millions of inliabitants. 

Mouni'ains. a range of mountains runs the whole 
extent of the American continent, a distance of more 
than 11,000 miles, in a vlirection nearly parallel with the 
western coast, and is the longest range of mountains on 
the globe. The Andes 'm S(»uth America, the Cordilleras 
in Mexico, and the Slony or Rocky Mountains in North 
America, are parts of this range. 

Divisions. Its grand divisions are North America^ 
the West Indies^ and South America. 


KQIITZI AMSRXCA. 

Divisions. The three grand divisions of North Amer¬ 
ica are, 1st, the United Slates in the middle ; 2d, British 
Aoierica in the north ; 3d, Spanish America in the South. 
There are also Greenland in the northea?^t, belonging to 
Denmark, and the Russian settlements in the northwest, 
both of small extent and little consequence. 

M ountains. 'Pile principal mountains are the Allege 
liany and the Stony JJountains. 

Rivkrs. T'he most distinguished rivers are the Mis- 
sisippi. St. hawrence^ Alissouri^ Ohto^ Columbia, and 
Mackenzie's river. 

Laki'-s. Its lakes are grand and numerous. The 
principal are Slave Lake. Lake of the Hills. Lake Win¬ 
nipeg. Lake Superior. Lake Huron, Luke Michigan, 
Lake Erie, and Lake Ontario. 

Gulfs. There are three noted gulfs,—the Gulf of 
Mexico, Gulf of California, and the Gulf or Bay of St. 
Lawrence. 

The Gulf Scream is a current in the ocean proceeding 
from the Gulf of Mexic>), along the American coast, to 
N ewfoundland, whence it turns oflf, and is lost in the At¬ 
lantic Ocean. 

.4 _ 

Bays and Straits. Baffuds and Hudson^s are the 
largest bays ; Davises, Hudsotds and Bhering's, the most 
noted Straits. 

IsLAAos. The most considerable islands are New- 
foundfand. Cape Breton. Prince Edward’s, Long Island, 
Bermuda* »nd the Aleutian or Fox Islands. 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


21' 

Capes. The most prominent capes are Cape Fareivelly 
Cape Race^ Cape Sable^ Cape Cod, Cape Lookout, Cape 
St. Lucas, and Cape Prince of Wales, 

UNITUD STATES. 

The number of the States at the linie <hey grained their 
independence was 13 5 the present numbiT is 24 Slates, 
1 District, and 5 Teriito:ios 1'f‘ey are boviiderl north 
and south bj Britisli atjd America; east and 

west by the Atlantic and Pac ilc Cee ir-s. 

Mountains. The two p.: .icipal Mn.es of n.; ':-/)tains 
are, the mountains 111 ilie -esi, an<l the /' 'hamj 

mountains in the east 

Lakes. Luke Michiitan atid Lf/kc ('h(tmvlai-< are the 
largest lakes within i.'ie eniimv of Toe Cfn e-i ^^aLes. 
Lake^ Superior, Huron. Ene, and Ou^ttrio, are j aniyiii 
tlie United States an<l par iv m C inad ». 

Ri v'KKs. I’ne Aiissisippi isihe most dlsdngiuislied river. 
Its 'principal tiihutaf v branches are the /<//•/, Afkan- 

saw, Ohio, and Illinois. /’ nnessce, Cnjnbt'rland. and the 
lC(d)abh. are laige rivers emntviiig into the Ohio. Tnese, 
fog eiiier with the lakes, constitute vvliat are sometimes 
called tlieWrsiER.x Waikks. ’I'lte pi incipal rivers east of 
the mountains, proceeding from Ma iie to liie MiS'-dsippi, 
are Penobscot, Kennebeck. Jli'diosc pgln, Saco. iM- ri iuiac, 
Connecticut, U> dson, Dt.laioare. Susquefiantiah. Potoinnac, 
Rappaliannoc, York, Janies, Roanoke, Pedce. Santee, Su^ 
vannah. Ogeecftee, .dl/arnoha,St. John's, elpalachicotu. and 
the Mobile, These are all large and navigable rivers. 

Bays. The principal bays are Massachusetts I ay, 
tvliich sets up into the land between Cape Jinn, and (krpe 
Cod, Buzzard^ Narraganset^ I)elaiL'are,eLi\d Chesapeak hays. 

Sounds. 'Phere are three noted sounds, Jllbcniarle, 
Pamlico, and Long Island Sound. 

Capes. 'Phe most prominent capes are Cape.dnn. ( ope 
Cod, Cape Malabar, and Montank Point, Sandy Hook, 
Cape May, Cape llentopen. Cape Charles, ( ape Henrijy 
Cape llatteras. Cape Ijuokout, and Cape Fear. 

Islands. 'I'lie principal islands are Rhode^ 

Island, situated in Narragaiiset bay ; Santuckct, and 
Marthals Vineyard. 

Divisions. 'I'lie whole territory of the United States 
may be considered under four GramI Divisions ; 1st., the 
Eastern or Nortitern ; 2 d. the Middle ; 3d. tlic Southern j 
4th. the Western. 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHr. 




1. THE EASTERN OR NORTHERN STATES. 


States. 

Maine, 

New Hampshire, 

Vermont, 

Massacliusetls, 

Rhode-Island, 

Connecticut, 


Capita! Towns. 

Portland, 
Concord, 
Mon'pelier, 
Boston, 
Providence 
& Newport, 
Hartford, & 
New Haven, 


Population 

Population 

Inc'^ease in 

Slaves 

in 1810. 

in 1820. 

10 years. 

in 1820? 

228 705 

298.335 

69.630 


^14,460 

244.161 

29,701 


217.895 

235,764 

17,869 


472.040 

523;287 

51,247 


76,931 

83,059 

6,128 

48 

261,942 

275,248 

13,306 

97 


Tl’.ese are also called the, Nevv-England States; or simply, New- 

2 . 


England 


States. 

New-York, 

New-Jersey, 

Pennsylvania, 

Delaware, 

Maryland, 

Dis. of Columbia, 


THE MIDDLE STATES. 

Capital Towns. 


Albany, 

Trenton, 

Harrisburg, 

Dover, 

Annapolis, 

Washington, 


Population Population Increase in 
in 1810. in 1820. lOyears. 

959,049 1,572,812 413,703 
245,562 277,575 32,013 

810,091 1,049,398 239,307 
72,074 72,749 75 

380,.540 407.350 

24,023 33,039 


Slaves, 
in 1820. 
10,088 
7,557 
211 
4,.509 


26.804 107,398 
9,016 6,377 


3 . 


Slates. 


THE SOUTHERN STA TES. 

Capital Towns. 


Virginia, 

North Carolina, 

South Carolina, 

Georgia, 

Alabama, 

Missisippi, 

Louisiana, 


Richmond, 

Raleigh, 

Columbia, 415,115 
'Milledgeville, 252,433 
Cabawba, 

Monticello, 40 352 
New Orleans, 70,556 


Population 
in 1810. in 1820. 

974,622 1,065,366 
555,500 638,829 


Population Increase in 
10 years 


502,741 

340,989 

127,901 

75,448 

153,407 


Slaves 
in 1820. 

0(r,744 425,153 
83,329 205,017 
87,625 258,475 
98,556 149,656 
41 879 
35,006 32314 
76,851 69,064 


Stales. 

Tennessee, 

Kentucky, 

Oliio, 

Indiana, 

Illinois, 

M issouri, 


4. THE WESTERN 

Capital Towns. Population 
<.‘1810. 

Murfreesboro’, 261,727 


STATES. 

Population Increase in 


Co 

Cl 

.i.. 

rs 


Frankfort, 
Columbus, 
Indianapolis, 
Vandalia, 
Jefferson, 

Michigan, Detroit, 
North West, 

Missouri, 

Arkansaw, Arkopolis, 
Florida, Pensacola. 


406,511 
230 760 
24,520 
12,282 

4,762 

14,273 


in 1820. 

422,813 
564,317 
581,434 
147,178 
55,211 
66,586 


Slave* 
10 years. in 1820. 

161,086 80,097 
157,806 126,732 
350,674 


122,658 

42,929 


8,895 ,4,133 


190 

917 

10,222 


1,617 


In 1810 
In 1820 


Population according to Census. 

Free Citizens. Slaves. 

: 6,048,-539 1,191,364 

: 8,157,304 1,538,178 


Total. 

7,239,903 

9,638,734 


Increase 2,108,765 Incr. 346,814 Incr. 2,398,831 





GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


23 


TAHLK 

Showino; the niimbfr of square rni/es in each Sfa^e, the 
populaHon to a scjuaie mile, ami the numherH employed 
in agricullure^ j/iantficiori t, and Cvinmerce^ and the 
number oi rtp resent at ives in Congies.". 

Numher empfnijed. 


States, 

Pop. to 
6q. miles. S i. tn 

1 III agri- 
. cuitu'-e. 

In ra mu- 
factories. 

In com¬ 
merce. Rep. 

Maine, 

3 l,75u 

0 

55,0ol 

7,643 

4,297 

7 

New Hampshire, 

9.491 

26 

52.384 

8,699 

1,068 

6 

Vermont 

10 ,2.2 

23 

50,951 

8,484 

776 

5 

Massachusetts, 

7,‘^50 

72 

63,460 

33,464 

13,102 

13 

Rhode Island, 

1,581 

53 

12,559 

6,091 

1,162 

2 

Connecticut, 

4,674 

58 

50,5 1 8 

17,541 

3,581 

6 

New York, 

46.0(J0 

30 

247,648 

60,038 

9,1 13 

34 

New' Jersey, 

8,320 

33 

40,812 

15,941 

1,830 

6 

Pennsylvania, 

46,000 

23 

140,801 

60,215 

7,083 

26 

Delaware, 

2,120 

24 

13,259 

2,821 

5.>3 

1 

Marylan-d, 

13,959 

29 

79, i35 

18,640 

4,771 

9 

Virginia, 

64,000 

17 

276,422 

32,336 

4,509 

22 

North Carolina, 

48,000 

13 

174,196 

18,844 

2,551 

13 

South Cirrolina, 

24,000 

20 

166,707 

6,747 

2,684 

9 

Georgia, 

60,000 

6 

101,185 

3,557 

2,139 

7 

Alabama, 

44,000 

3 

30,642 

1,412 

452 

2 

Missisippi, 

45,000 

o 

22,033 

294 

652 

1 

lsoui>iiina. 

48,000 

o 

53,941 

6,041 

6^25 1 

3 

ennessee. 

40,000 

11 

101,919 

7,860* 

882 

9 

Kentucky, 

42,000 

13 

132,161 

11,779 

1,617 

12 

Ohio, 

39,000 

15 

110,991 

18,956 

1,459 

14 

Indiana, 

36,000 

3 

61,315 

3,229 

429 

3 

Illinois, 

52,000 

1 

12,395 

1,007 

233 

1 

Missouri, 

60,000 

1 

14,24r 

1,952 

495 

1 


MAINE. 

Maine is divided into 9 counties.^ 

Mountains. Katahiliii is a lofty mountain, about 80 
mi It'S north ai' JJatigor. Aj^ainenticus, in (he town of York, 

* At it it unnetcitary for ibe pupil to comniit to moniory ttie names of the Counties, except 
^haps of the State in which he resides, they are placed at the bottom of the page in notes. 

Names of the Counties in Maine. 

Kenncbecki Waahinctcni 

Somerseti Oxford, 

Penobscot. 


York, 

CmkorisBd, 






24 


grammar of geography. 


is a mountain of considerable eminence, and a noted 
landmark for mariners. 

Rivers. Thejprincipal rivers are Penobscot^ Kenneheck^ 
Androscoggin^ Saco, and the Sebasficook, a branch of the 
Kenmhcc. St. Croix is an inconsiderable stream, noted 
only as forming the eastern boundary of the United States. 

Lakes. In Maine there is a profusion of lakes and 
ponds. Moosehead is the largest lake, being about 40 
miles in length. Umbagog lake lies partly in Maine and 
partly in New Hampshire. Sebacook lake is a consider¬ 
able body of water, 18 miles N. W of Portland. 

Bays Passamaquoddy., Machias, Frenchman’s, Penob¬ 
scot. and Casco, are the principal bays. 

Capes. Porpoise, Elizabeth, Small Point, and Pema- 
quid Point. 

Islands. The islands along the coast are very nume¬ 
rous. Mount Desert is 15 miles long by 12 broad, and con¬ 
tains 1121 inhabitants. Long island in Penobscot bay 
forms a township by the name ot Islesborough. Near 
this IS Deer island, which is also an incorporated town. 

Sequin Island is at the mouth of Keimebeck river. On 
this island is a light-house with a repeating light, made to 
disappear every ninety seconds, to distinguish it from 
Portland light house. 

Towns. The most considerable towns are Portland, 
Bath, Wiscasset, Hallowell, Augusta, York, Falmouth, 
North- Yarmouth, Brunswick, Belfast, Castine, and Ma¬ 
chias. 

CoiLEGES. Bowdoin College at Brunswick; Waterville 
College, under the direction of members of the Baptist 
denomination, at Waterville; and a Theological Seminary 
at Bangor, supported by Congregationalists. 

A road is laid out from Bangor, on Penobscot river, to 
Quebec, a disiaiice of about 200 miles. 

The staple commodities are lunsber, wood, and salt fish. 
Lime is manufactured in large quantities at Thomastown. 

NEW HAMPSHIRE. 

New-Hampshire is divided into 7 counties."^ 

Rivers. Five of the largest rivers in New-England re¬ 
ceive more or less of their wafers tn»m this Sta*e; ihe Con- 

I.. ... . 

Name* of tCie Cmniics iu New-Ujrr.i-biiire. 

Coca, Cheshire, M^'iriuiaik, 

CraRyp* HiUaborough, Kc kiugham, 

btuffurd. 




<;rammar of geograpiiv. 


necticid, Merrimac, Piscataqxta^ Saco^ ami Jindroscog^iru 
The Piscataqua is the only large river which has its whole 
course within the State. There are several smaller riv¬ 
ers, among which are the Contoocook, Ujjper and Lower 
Jlmonooksuck, kVarner and Sugar Rivers. 

M ountains. The Tfliite Mountains are the highest not 
only in New Hampshire, bur. in the United States. Mount 
Washington, the most elevat|4 summit, has been esti¬ 
mated at about 7,000 feet above the level of the ocean. 
It is covered with snow a great part of the year, and may 
be seen many leagues oft*at sea, like a bright cloud low 
in the horizon. 

More southwardly and parts of the same range, between 
Connecticut and Merrimack rivers, are Moosehillock, 
Sunapee, and the Grand Monadnock, the height of which, 
is 3,254 feet. 

Lakes. TVinnipiseogeeis the largest lake in the State. 
It is 24 miles in length, and navigable its whole extent. 
The other considerable lakes are Lmbagog., in the north¬ 
east corner of the State, Squam., Sunapee, Great Ossapee^ 
and Massabesic. Massabesic lake is in Chester, and is 30 
miles in circumference. A company has been incorpo¬ 
rated to open the navigation between this lake and the 
Merrimack ; the distance is about 4 miles. 

Islands. The/s/e^ Shoals, Sin number, areO miles from 
Portsmouth light house. They consist of barren rocks, 
inhabited by about 100 people, who subsist by fishing. 

Towns. The chief towns are Por/smow/Zi, Con¬ 
cord, Amherst. Keene. JVafpole, Charlestown, Hanover^ 
Haverhill and Plymouth. 

College. Dartmouth is the only college in the State, 
situated at Hanover. 

Canals. Locks and canals have been constructed on. 
the Merrimuc, so that boats now descend this river, 
without any obstruction, from Concord through the Mid¬ 
dlesex canal to Boston ; likewise round the tails of Con¬ 
necticut river, in Lebanon, by which boats now ascend 
that river to Ifath, 300 miles from the sea. 

Tlie staple commodities are beef, pork, flaxseed, pot 
and pearl ashes. 

C 


26 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHV. 


VERMONT. 


Vermont is divided into IS counties.^ 

Mountains. The Green Mountains extend the whole 
length of the State, and divide the waters which fall east 
into the Connecticut, from those which fall west into lake 
Cliamplain. 

Ri VERS. The princip^R rivers west of the mountains, 
are MichiscouU Lamoille^ Onion^ and Otter Creek rivers ; 
cast of the mountains, are TVest^ White, and Poosoom- 
suck rivers, which empty into the Connecticut. 

Lakes. Lake Champlain washes a large part of the 
w estern side of Vermont. It communicates with the St. 
Lawrence by the river Sorelle, which is navigable. Mem- 
phremagog, on the north line of Vermont, is a small lake 
mostly within the limits of Canada. 

T owns. The chief towns are Bennington, Windsor, Rut¬ 
land, Burlington, Middlehury, Vergennes, Brattleborough, 
Newbury, and Montpelier, which is the seat of government. 

Colleges. “ Vermont University” at and 

a college at Middlebury, supported chiefly by private 
bounty. 

Canal. A canal with several locks has been construct¬ 
ed round Bellows’ Falls in Connecticut river. 

The staple commodities are pot and pearl ashes, beef, 
pork, maple sugar, butter and cheese. 

MASSACHUSETTS. 

Massachusetts, the most populous State in the Union, 
is divided into 14 counties.! 

Mountains. A continuation of the Green Mountains 
extends through the western end of the State. Saddle 
mountain, in Williamstown, Mount Tom and Mount Hol¬ 
yoke, near Northampton, Wachusett in Princeton, and 
Mount Toby in Sunderland, are some of the most noted. 


Bennington, 

Rutland, 


* Names of the Counties in Vermont. 

Addison, CJrand Isle, 

Chittenden, Franklin, 


] 


west of the mountains. 


Washington, in the centre of the State, in which is Montpelier, the capital. 


Orleans, 

Essex, 


Caledonia, 

Orange, 


Windsor, 

Windham, 




east Of the mountains. 


I Names of the Counties in Massachusetts. 


Berkshire, 

Hamden, 

Essex, 

Plymouth, 

Dukes,^ 

Hampshire, 

Worcester, 

Suffolk, 

Bristol, 

and 

Franklin, 

Middlesex, 

Norfolk, 

Barnstable, 

Nantucket. 




GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


27 


Rivers. The principal rivers are Connecticut^ Strat¬ 
ford or Ilousatonick, Deerfield^ Westfield^ Chicopee^ Mil- 
ter^s, Merrimack, Concord, Nashua, Taunton, Charles, 
and Patucket. 

Canals. Middlesex canal is 30 miles in length, and. 
connects Boston harbour with Merrimack river. Canals 
have also been constructed around the falls in Connecti¬ 
cut river at South Hadley, The Blackstone canal from 
"Worcester to Providence is 40 miles in length. 

Bays. Massachusetts is the largest bay. It is a part of 
the ocean extending up between Cape and Cape Cod. 
The distance between these two capes is 45 miles. Bos¬ 
ton, Plymouth, and Barnstable bays are extreme parts of 
Massachusetts bay. Buzzard^s bay, on the south side of 
the peninsula of Cape Cod, sets up about forty miles in¬ 
to the land. 

Harbours. The principal harbours are those of New- 
huryport, Ipswich, Cape Jinn, Salem, Marblehead, Bos¬ 
ton, Cohasset, Scituate, Plymouth, Barnstable, Province- 
town, and New Bedford. 

Nantasket Roads, so called, is a place at the entrance 
into the channels of Boston Harbour, south of the light¬ 
house, where vessels may anchor in safety. 

Capes. Cape Ann, Cape Cod, Cape Alalabar, Sandy 
Point, Gay Head, Cape Poge. 

Islands. The most considerable islands arc Plum 
Island, Nantucket, and Martha^s Vineyard. Castle Island, 
about three miles from Boston, now called Fort Indepen¬ 
dence, belongs to the United States, and is noted for its 
fortifications, which have been erected for the defence 
of the city. 

Towns. The principal towns are Boston, Salem, Mar¬ 
blehead, Newburyport, Ipswich, Charlestown, Plymouth and 
New Bedjord. Cambridge, Concord, JVorcester, Spring- 
field, and Northampton, are considerable inland towns. 

Colleges. Cambridge University j Williams College at 
TVilliamstown; Amherst College, near Northampton; 
Theological Seminary at Andover j and Theological In¬ 
stitution, at Newton 

The staple commodities are fish, cattle, and Indian corn. 

RHODE ISLAND. 

Rhode Island is divided into 5 counties.^ 

Narrai^ansct Bay penetrates this State from the south, 
encloiintr a number of fertile islands. It is about SO 


Providence. 


* Namrt of the Counties In Rhode Island. 
Newport, Washington. Kent. 


and Bristol. 



28 


GRAM3IAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


miles in length, and affords safe navigation for large ships 
to Providence. Mount Hope bay in the northeast, Provi¬ 
dence bay in the north, and Greenwich bay in tlie north¬ 
west, are extremities of Narraganset bay extending up 
into the land. 

Ha RBouRs. The harbours are Newport, Providence, 
(Wickford, Patucket, Warren, and Bristol. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are Patucket, Taunton, 
Pawtuxet, and Providence rivers. Tlie Patucket affords 
a number of excellent mill seats at the falls in Patucket, 
where are established various manufactories. Taunton 
river is navigable for small ships to Taunton in Massa¬ 
chusetts. Tlie Pawtuxet is formed of several branches 
in the western part of the State, and falls into Narragan¬ 
set bay, about 5 miles below Providence. 

Islands. The principal islands are Rhode-Island, from 
which the State takes its name, about 15 miles in length j 
Canonicut, three miles west of Rhode-Island, 7 miles in 
length 5 and to the north of these. Prudence Island. 
These, together with a number of smaller islands, are all 
comprehended within Narraganset bay. To the south¬ 
ward of these, in the open sea, is Block-Island, about 10 
miles long and 4 broad. 

Towns. The chief towns are Providence, Newport, 
Bristol and W arren. 

College. “ Brown University,’^ at Providence, is the 
only College in the State. 

The staple commodities are beef, fish, cider, butter, 
and cheese. 

CONNECTICUT. 

Connecticut, one of the most populous States in the 
Union, is divided into 8 counties.* 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Connecticut, the 
Stratford, or the Housatonick, and the Thames. 'I'he Con¬ 
necticut is one of the^chief sources of convenience and 
wealth to the people of this State. It meets the tide at 
Hartford, 50 miles from the sea, to which place it is nav¬ 
igable for ships ; and for boats, by means of locks and ca¬ 
nals, nearly 200 miles further to Bath, in the upper part 
of New Hampshire. Housatonick, or Stratford river, is 

* Names of the Counties in Connecticut. 

Hartford, New-London,, Windham, Middlesex, 

New-Haven, Fairfield, tUehfteld, ToUand. 



GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHV. 


20 


navigable 12 miles to Derby. The Thames is navigable 
14 miles to NorivicJu vvhere it loses its name and branches 
into Shetucket and Quinebaug rivers. 

H AKBOUKS. The principal harbours are those of New- 
Haven, New-London, and Bridgeport. 

Fisher^s is the only island of note belonging to the State. 

Mineral Waters. A medicinal spring at Stafford is 
more celebrated than any other in the New England 
States. 

Cities. There are five incorporated cities In this State; 
New-Haven^ Ijing round the head of a bay which sets up 
from Long-Island sound ; Hartford^ at the head of ship 
navigation, on Connecticut river ; New-London^ on the 
west side of the river Thames, 3 miles from its mouth ; 
Norivich, at the head of navigation on the same river ; and 
J)'liddletownf 15 miles below Hartford on Connecticut river. 

Colleges. “Yale College” in “Connec¬ 

ticut Asylum for the education of the deaf and dumb” in 
Harlford ; a Law school in Litchfield; and the “ Foreign 
Missionary.Scliool” for the education of Heathen chil¬ 
dren, at Cornwall, near Litchfield ; Washington College, 
at Hartford, 

The staple commodities are beef, pork, fish, lumber, 
horses, mules, butter, cheese, cider, and onions. 

NEW YORK. 

New York is divided into 55 counties.* 

Mountains. The most noted mountains in this State 
are the Katskill and the Highlands, said to be the north¬ 
ern termination of the Alleghany and Blue ridges. 

LAKfc'^. Erie,, Ontario^ and Champlain^ form a part of 
the boundary of this State. The other most considerable 
lakes are lake George^ the Oneida, Cayuga, Seneca, and 
Canandaigua. Onondaga, or Salt Lake, is a small collec- 


* Names of the Counties in New.Tork. 


SufTolkf 

Greene, 

Herkimer, 

Onondaga, 

Queen's, 

Columbia, 

Lewis, 

Cayuga, 

King’s, 

Tompkins, 

Jefferson, 

Seneca, 

Richmond, 

Albany, 

St. Lawrence, 

Tioga, 

New-Vork, 

Schenectady, 

Oneida, 

Steuben, 

Wcst-Cheiter, 

Montgomery, 

Madison, 

Ontario, 

Alleghany, 

RockLnd, 

Franklin, 

Cbenangn, 

Orange, 

Washington, 

Broome, 

• Genetsee, 

Ulster, 

Essex, 

Hamilton, 

Livingston, 

Sullivan, 

Clinton, 

Oswego, 

Niagara, 

Munroe, 

Dutchess, 

Warren, 

Wayne, 

Putnam, 

Saratoga, 

Cattaraugus, 

Tates, 

KenMllaer, 

Scoharie, 

Chataque, 

Erie. 

Dclavrare, 

Otsego, 

CotUaiid, 



C 2 



30 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


tion of water one mile broad and 6 miles long. It derives 
its saltness from the salt springs which are within a few 
rods of its banks. Otsego heads on'e of the branches of 
the Susquehannah. Chatauque is a small lake near lake 
Erie ; it discharges its waters into Alleghany river. Boats 
proceed from the head of this lake to New-Orleans. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Hudson^ Mo¬ 
hawk^ Genessee, Oswego, Seneca, Chenango, a branch of 
the Susquehannah, and Black river. 

Canals. There are two noted canals ; the “Grand 
Western Canal,” which connects lake Erie with Huron 
river, extending from Buffalo to Albany., 3'50 miles and 
the “Northern Canal,” connecting Lake Champlain with 
the Hudson., and which extends from Whitehall to Fort 
Edwards, 22 miles. 

Mineral Waters. There are medicinal springs at 
Saratoga and Ballston, superior to any other yet discov¬ 
ered in America ; the salt springs at Salina are very cel¬ 
ebrated, from which salt is made in great quantities. 

Gypsum, or Plaister of Paris, has been discovered, in 
digging on the Grand Canal, of the best quality it is said, 
and in abundant quantities. 

Islands. The principal islands are Lo7ig Island, 140 
mil es in length; Manhattan or York Island, on which is 
situated the city New York ; Staten Island, 9 miles 
south of Manhattan island : and Grand Isle in Niagara 
river a little above the falls. 

Bay. New York bay is 9 miles long, and 4 broad, and 
spreads to the south of Manhattan island, having Long Island 
on the east, and New Jersey and Staten isianil on the west. 

Harbours. Neiv York harbour and Jacket’s harbour 
on Lake Ontario. 

Towns. The principal towns are New York, Albany, 
Hudson, Troy,^<i\vh\\vg, Poughkeepsie, Lansingburg, and 
Waterford, all on Hudson river ,• Schenectady and Utica, 
on i\\^ Mohawk; Plattsburg <i\n\ Whitehall on lake Cham¬ 
plain p 0^<i\^i\s\i\xYg on the St. Lawrence; Brooklyn and 
Sagg Harbour on Lo7Xg Island; Buffalo on lake Erie; 
SackeCs Harbour on lake Ontario ; Rochester, Cherry 
Valley, Auburn, Geneva, and Canandaigua on the turn¬ 
pike leading from Albany to Buffalo. 

Colleges. The Colleges are three, “ Columbia Col¬ 
lege,” in the city New York ; “Union College,” in 
Schenectady; and “Hamilton College,” in Paris, 10 miles 
west of Utica, 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPIIV 


31 


Indians. There are about 5,000 Indians still living in 
this State. They are principally the remains of the^ix 
Nations. 

The staple commodities are flour, beef, pork, pot and 
pearl ashes, maple sugar, and salt which is manufactured 
in large quantities from salt springs in the State. 


NEW-JERSEY 


New-Jersey is divided into 13 counties.* 

Mountains. The Kittatinny or North Mountain, a 
ridge of the great Alleghany range, crosses tlie north 
western part of the State. 

Ri VERS. Raritan^] Hackinsack and Passaick. Raritan 
is the largest river. It is navigal)le 16 n\iles, and emp¬ 
ties into Amboy bay. Hackinsack and Passaick are also 
considerable rivers. They rise in New-York, and empty 
into Newark bay. In the latter there is a remarkable 
cataract at Patterson^ called Passaick falls, where the 
river, 50 yards wide, is precipitated in one entire sheet 
down a deep precipice 70 feet. 

Rays, &c. Delaware^ Jjmboy , and Newark bays ; 
Great and Idttle Egg Harbours. Delaware bay forms 
the south west boundary of the State. Arnboy bayt opens 
into the Atlantic between Long Island and Sandy Hook. 
On the north of Staten Island is Newark bay. It is 
connected with Amboy bay by Arthur Hull Sound, and 
with New-York bay by a narrow Strait called the Kills. 
Staten Island, situated between these two bavs, belongs 
to New-York. 

Capes. The most noted capes are Cape May and 
Sandy Hook. 

Towns. The chief towns arc Trenton^ Newark^ 
Piizabefhtoivn, Perth, Patterson, Amboy, Burlington, 
New-Brunswick and Princeton. 

Colleges, 'rhe “College of New Jersey” at Pr/nce- 
ton ; also two Theological Seminaries, one at Princeton, 
the other at New-Brunswick. 

The staple commodities are beef, butter, cheese, wheat, 
and fruit. A valuable copper mine, in this State, yields 
75 j)0iin(ls of pure copper, from 100 poumU of the ore. 


* Name* of the Counties in New-Jetsey. 


Ctpe May, 
Cumberland, 
Salem, 
Gluuccater, 


Burlington, 

Hunterdon, 

Suatex, 


Berntn, 

Essex, 

Middlesex 


Monmouth 

Somerset, 

Munis. 


VSee mapttf the N. E. States, ** Part of N. Jersey. 



32 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPIir. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 

Pennsylvania is divided into 51 counties.* 

M ouM'AiNS. Numerous ridges of mountains, the 
principal of which is the *jilleghany, intersect this State 
in a direction from north-east to south-west. 

Rivers. Delaware river forms the eastern boundary 
of this State. The other most considerable rivers are the 
Susquehannafi^ Schuylkill, Juniata^ Jllleghany^ Monongci- 
hela^ and Yohogany. The Susquehannah is one mile wide 
at its mouth, but is navigable for vessels in its natural 
state only about 5 miles on account of its rapids. The 
Delaware is navigable to Trenton^ 140 miles from the sea. 

The Schuylkill is a branch of the Delaware, with which 
it forms a junction five miles below Philadelphia. The 
Slleghany and Monongahela^ both navigable rivers 
uniting at Pittsburgh constitute the Ohio. The Yohog¬ 
any is a principal branch of the Monongahela. 

Towns. Harrisburg is the seat of government. There 
are three incorporated cities— Philadelphia., Lancaster^ 
Pittsburg. The other most considerable towns are 
lieadingh Carlisle, Wilksbary, Easton and Germantown. 

Colleges. “ Pennsylvania University’’ at Philadel¬ 
phia ; “ Dickenson College” at C’wr/is/e ,* “Washington 
College” at Washington ; “ Jefferson College” at Can- 
nonsburg, and “Alleghany College” at Meadville. 

The grand staple of this State is wheat. Coal is very 
abundant about Pittsburg, west of the mountains. 

DELAWARE. 

Delaware is divided into three counties.! 

Rivers. There are no large rivers in this State •, the 
Brandywine is the most considerable ; it affords a great 
number of excellent mill seats. Christiana is a branch of 
the Brandywine ; they unite and empty into the Delaware. 


* Names of Counties in Pennsylvania. 


Adams, 

Columbia, 

Lebanon, 

Pike. 

Alleghany, 

Crawford, 

Lehigh, 

Schuylkill, 

Armstrong, 

Cumberland, 

Luzerne, 

Somerset, 

Beaver, 

Dauphin, 

Lycoming, 

Susquehannah, 

Bedford, 

Delaware, 

M’Kean, 

Tioga, 

Berks, 

Erie, 

Mccer, 

Union, 

Bradford, 

Fayette, 

Mifflin, 

Venango, 

Bucks, 

Franklin, 

Montgomery, 

Warren, 

Butler, 

Greene, 

Northampton, 

Washington, 

Cambria, 

Huntington, 

Northumberland, 

Wayne, 

Centre, 

Indiana, 

Perry, 

Westmoreland, 

Chester, 

Jefferson, 

Philadelphia, 

York. 

Clearfield, 

Lancaster, 

Potter, 



t Names of the Counties in Delaware. New-Castle, Kent, and Sussex. 




GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


33 


Bays, &c. Delaware bay is half in this State, and half 
in New-Jersey. Cape Henlopen h a noted cape, south of 
Avhich is Rehoboth bay, separated by a narrow bar from 
the ocean. 

Cypress Swamp, 12 miles in length, and six in breadth, 
is more than half of it, in this State. 

Towns. The chief towns are Wilmington^ Dover^ 
Newcastle^ and Lewistown^ at which latter place are salt 
works, where salt is manufactured from sea water, by the 
sun. 

MARYLAND. 

Maryland is divided into 19 counties.^ 

Mountains. Various ridges of the Alleghany ]Moun- 
tains cross the western part of this State. The most eastern 
is the South Mountain, next to which is the Blue Bulge. 

Ray. Nearly two thirds of Chesapcak bay is in this State. 

Rivers. The river Potowmack forms the boundary of 
this Stateon the south west. The *S'i<s<yMe/ia?nia/tpenetrates 
it about 16 miles before it empties into Chesapeak bay. 
The other rivers are Patuxent and Petapsco from the west, 
and Pocomoke, Nanticoke, Choptank,.Chester, and Elk 
rivers from the east, all which empty into the Chesapeak. 

Towns. The chief towns are Baltimore^ JlnnapoUs, 
and Frederickstown. 

Colleges. The “ University of Maryland” is not yet 
in operati(»n, except the Medical department, which is in 
a flourishing state ; St. Mary’s and Baltimore college, all 
in the city of Baltimore. 

The staple commodities are wheat and tobacco. Mary¬ 
land is the third State in the Union in the amount of ship- 
ping. 

VIRGINIA. 

Virginia is divided into 102 counties.t 

Mountains. Vast ridges of mountains extend through 
the interior of this State. First on the east is the South 



* Names of the Counties in Maryland. 


Hartford, 

Frederic, 

Montgomery, 

Charles, 1 

^ \Vp*tPrn 

Baltiniure, 

Alleghany, 

Prince George, 

and ! 


Ann-Arundel, 

Washington, 

Calvert, 

St. Mary’s. J 


Cecil, 

Queen Ann, 

Talbot, 

Dorchester, and 1 

' Eastern 

Kent, 

Caroline, 

Somerset, 

Worcester. J 

1 6hore. 


t Name* of tbc Counties !n Virginia. 


Aromac, 

Bedford, 

Campbell, 

Culpepper, 

Fairfax, 

Grayson, 

Albemaitc, 

« Berkeley, 

Caroline, 

Cabell, 

Fluvanna, 

Greenbrier, 

Amelia, 

B.tetout, 

Charles city. 

Dinwiddle, 

Frederick, 

Greenville, 

Am herst. 

Brooke, 

Charlotte, 

Elizabeth city. 

Franklin, 

Giles, 

Augusta, 

Brunswick, 

Chesterfletd, 

Essex, 

Gloucester, 

Halifax, 

Bath, 

Buckingham, 

Cumber land. 

Faquier, 

Goochland, 

Hampshire, 




34 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


Mountain, which is less extensive, more broken and irreg¬ 
ular than the rest; then the Blue Ridge^ the North Moun¬ 
tain, Jackson’s Mountain, the principal or Alleghany 
ridge, and the liaurel Mountain. 

Rivers. The Potowmnc is the boundary on the north¬ 
east, and the Ohio on the north-west. The other most 
considerable rivers are the Rappahannock, York, James, 
Appomattox, Shenandoah, and the Great Kanhawa. 

Bays and Capes. Chesapeak bay penetrates into the land 
through the north east corner of this State, between Cape 
Charles and Cape Henry, two very noted capes, the dis¬ 
tance between which is 12 miles. 

Hampton Road, is a bay running up from the mouth of 
James river, at the head of which Hampton is situated. 

Swamp. The Great Dismal is a very celebrated Swamp 
nearly 30 miles in length, and 10 in breadth, partly in 
this State, and partly in North Carolina. 

Towns. There are no large towns in Virginia. Rich¬ 
mond is the seat of government. The other most consid¬ 
erable towns are Norfolk, Petersburg, Williamsburg, 
Yorktown, Lexington, and Fredericksburg. 

Colleges. The “University of Virginia,” at Char¬ 
lottesville ; “ William and Mary College,” at Williams¬ 
burg ; “Washington College” at Lexington ; and “Hamp¬ 
den Sidney College,” in Prince Edward county. 

Minerals. There are valuable lead and iron mines in 
this State, which are wrought; also abundance of marble 
and of excellent coal. There are indications of a rich 
gold mine in Rockingham county ; lumps of pure gold 
have been found on the surface of the ground, one of 
which weighed \7 pwt. 

The staple commodities are wheat, tobacco, and In¬ 
dian corn. 


Names of the Counties In Virginia. 


Hanover, 

Lunenburg, 

Nelson, 

Scott, 

Hardy, 

Aladison, 

Ohio, 

Shenandoah, 

Harrison, 

Matthews, 

Orange, 

Southampton, 

Henrico, 

Mecklenburg, 

Patrick, 

Spotsylvania, 

Henry, 

Middlesex, 

Pendleton, 

Stafford, 

Isle of Wight, 

Monongalia, 

Pittsylvania, 

Surry, 

James City, 

Monroe, 

Powhatan, 

Sussex, 

Jefferson, 

Montgomery, 

Preston, 

Tazewell, 

Kanhawa, 

Morgan, 

Prince Edward, 

Tyler, 

King& Queen, 

Mason, 

Princess Anne, 

Warwick, 

King George, 

Nansemond, 

Prince William, 

Washington, 

King William, 

New Kent, 

Prince George, 

Westmoretandj 

Lancaster, 

Nicholson, 

Randolph, 

Wood, 

Lee, 

Norfolk, 

Richmond, 

Wythe, 

Lewis, 

Northampton, 

Rockbridge, 

York. 

Loudan, 

Northumberland, 

Rockingham, 


Louisa, 

Nottoway, 

Russell, 




GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHV. 


35 


NORTH CAROLINA. 

North Carolina is divided into 62 counties.^ 

M ouNTAiNS. The Alleghany ridge crosses the western 
j)art of this State. 

Rivers. The most considerable rivers are the Chowan^ 
a branch of w hich, rising in Virginia, is called Meherrin 
river; the Roanoke^ formed by the junction of Staunton 
and Dan rivers, navigable for small vessels about 60 or 70 
miles I its current is rapid and much obstructed by falls ; 
Tar or Pamlico river, navigable for vessels about 40 miles; 

river, one and a half miles wide, at Newhern^ and 
9 miles wide at its mouth ; Cape Fear nver^ navigable 
for large vessels to Wilmington, and for boats io Fayette¬ 
ville^ 90 miles further. This river affords the best navi¬ 
gation in the State. Most of these, as well as the smaller 
rivers, have bars of sand at their mouths, and the coast 
affords no good harbours except Cape Fear. 

Swamps. Swamps in this State are numerous. The two 
principal are the Great Dismal, partly in this State and 
jiartly in Virginia, and the Little Dismal between Albe¬ 
marle and Pamlico sounds, in each of which there is a 
lake or pond. 

Canal. •A canal has been opened from Albemarle sound 
to Chesapeak bay, through the Great Dismal swamp. It 
is supplied with water from Drummond’s pond, in the 
centre of the sivamp. 

Sounds. On the coast of North Carolina are two large 
sounds ; Albemarle sounds about 60 miles in length, and 
from 8 to 12 miles in breadth ; and Pamlico sound., nearly 
100 miles in length, and from 10 to 20 miles in breadth. 
These sounds are separated from the ocean by a chain of 
sand islands, generally about one mile in breadth, extend¬ 
ing more than 100 miles along the coast. 


* Naraei of ttie Counties in Nottb Carolina. 


Moore, 

Haywood, 

Bertie, 

Tyrrel, 

Guilford, 

Warren, 

Perquimans, 

Anson, 

Beaufort, 

Columbus, 

Richmond, 

Onslow, 

Cabarras, 

Rutherford, 

Halifax, 

Caswell, 

Gates, 

Duplin, 

Chatham, 

Person, 

Surry, 

Rockingham, 

Bladen, 

Na^h, 

Franklin, 

Robeson, 

Wake, 

Orange, 

Washington, 

Martin, 

Stokes, 

Johnson, 

Currituc, 

Craven, 

Pasquotank, 

Chowan, 

Green, 

Brunswick, 

Cumberland, 

Rowan, 

Granville, 

Camden, 

Northampton, 

Hertford, 

Bunwombe, 

Pitt, 

Wilkes, 

Hyde, 

Randolph, 

New Hanover, 

Ash, 

Lincoln, 

Moniguniery, 

Burke, 

Cdgecombe, 

Sampson , 

Carteret, 

Junes, 

Lenurie, 

• Wayne, 

Ircdel, 

Mecklenburg. 



36 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


The only inlet into Pamlico sound, that will admit ves¬ 
sels of burden, is Ocrecocj where there are 14 feet of wa¬ 
ter at low tide. 

Capes. There are three noted capes on this coast, 
Cape HatteraSj Cape Lookout^ and Cape Fear, all formida¬ 
ble to seamen. The shoals about Cape Hatterasare very 
extensive, and the weather is often tempestuous, with fre¬ 
quent storms of thunder. There is no place in the At¬ 
lantic ocean where navigation is more dangerous. 

Towns. Newbern is the largest town in the State ; Ra¬ 
leigh is the seat of government. Some of the other most 
considerable towns are Edenton, Brunswick, TVilming- 
'ton, Fayetteville, and Halifax. 

College. The only col lege is the “University of North 
Carolina,” at Chapel Hill, 28 miles west of Raleigh. 

The staple commodities are tobacco, wheat, maize, 
dee, pitch, tar, and turpentine. 

SOUTH CAROLINA. 

South Carolina is divided into 28 districts.'^ 

Riivers. Three great rivers water this State—the 
Great Pedee, the Santee, and the Savannah. ^ The less 
considerable rivers are the Edisto, Ashley and Cooper 
rivers. 

Harbours. The only harbours of note are those of 
Charleston, Port Royal, and Georgetown. 

Islands. The islands along the seashore are very nu¬ 
merous, and many of them are inhabited. The princi¬ 
pal are Sullivan’s, James, John's, Edisto, St. Helena and 
Port Royal islands. ^ 

Towns. The most considerable towns are Charleston, 
Georgetown, Beaufort, Camden, and Columbia. 

College “ South Carolina College” at Columbia, is 
the only one of note in the »State. 

Ca".’al. a canal 22 miles in length^ connects Santee 
and Cooper rivers. 

I'he staple commodities are cotton and rice. 


* Names of the Districts in South Carolina. 


Charleston, 

Darlington,- 

Newberry, 

Lancaster, 

Abbeville, 

York, 

Chester, 

Chesterfield, 

Marion, 

Edgefield, 

Kershaw, 

Richland, 

Spartenburg, 

Union, 

Lexington, 

Georgetown, 

Greenville, 

Colleton. 

Laurius, 

Fairfield, 

Williamsburg, 

Horry, 

Sumpter, 


Marlborough, 

Pendleton, 

Orangeburgb, 

Barnwell, 

Beaufort, 




GRAMMAPw OF GEOGRAPHY. 


39 


GEORGIA. 

Georgia is divided into 57 counties.* 

Mountains. The Alleghany or Apalachian mountains 
cross the upper end of this State. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Savannalu be¬ 
tween Georgia and South Carolina, navigable for large 
ships to Savannah 17 miles ; for boats to Augusta 100 
miles further Ogechee^ Altamaha^ Satilla, Flint, and 
Chatnhouchee rivers. St. Alary is a small river, remark¬ 
able only as being a part of the boundary between Geor¬ 
gia and Florida. 

Swamps. Swamps are numerous in this State. The 
two most noted are Okefonoco, 180 miles in length, much 
infested with alligators, situated partly in this State, and 
partly in Florida, and Cypress swamp near the source of 
Satilla river. 

Towns. The principal towns are Savannah, Augusta, 
Petersburg, Darien, Louisville, and Alilledgeville, the pres¬ 
ent seat of government. 

College. “Franklin College” at Athens, is the only 
College in the State. 

Indians. The western part of the State is in possession 
of the Indians called Creeks, the most war-like tribe this 
side the Missisippi. 

The principal production is cotton, next to which is 
rice. Most of the tropical fruits, such as oranges, lemons, 
figs and olives, with proper attention, flourish in this State. 

ALABAMA. 

Alabama is divided into 33 counties.! 

Rivers. The principal river is the Mobile, formed by 
the union of the Alabama and Tombechee, two other large 


* Name* of the Counties in Georgia. 


Appling, 

Crawford, 

Greene, 

Jefferson, 

Munroe, 

Tatnal, 

Baldwin, 

Dekall, 

Gwinnet, 

Jones, 

Newton, 

Oglethorpe, 

Telfair, 

Bibb. 

Dooly, 

Habersham, 

Laurent, 

Twiggs, 

Bryan, 

Early, 

Hall, 

Liberty, 

Pike, 

Walton, 

Bullock, 

Elbert, 

Hancock, 

Lincoln, 

Pulaski, 

Warren, 

Burke, 

Emanuel, 

Henry, 

Madison, 

Putnam, 

Washington, 

Camden, 

Effingham, 

Houston, 

M’ Intosh, 
Montgomery, 

Rabun, 

Wayne, 

Chatham, 

Fayette, 

Irwin, 

Richmond, 

Wilkes, 

Clarke, 

Columbia, 

Franklin, 

Glynn, 

Jackson, Morgan, Striven, 

Jasper, 

f Name* of the Counties in Alabama. 

Wilkinson. 

Antauga, 

Clark, 

Henry, 

Madison, 

MontgOfflCiT, 

Skeiby. 

Baldwin, 

Conecuh, 

Jackson, 

Marengo, 

Morgan, 

St. Clair, 

Bibb. 

Dallas, 

Jefferson, 

Marion, 

Perry, 

TuskalooM, 

Blount, 

Decatur, 

Lauderdale, 

Mobile, 

Pickens, 

Washington. 

Butler, 

Franklin, 

Green,. 

Lawrence, 

Limestone, 

D 

Monioe, 

Pke, 

Wilcj*. 




38 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


and navigable rivers. I'he other consideiable rivers are 
the Coosa, Tallapoosa, Cahawha* and 0)e hluck Warrior, 
All these rivers empty their waters through Mobile river 
into Mobile bay. Tennessee river crosses the upper end 
of this State. 

Towns. Cahawba, situated at the junction of Cahawba 
and Alabama rivers, is the seat of government; Mobile and 
Blakely are the principal ports ; Huntsville is the centre of 
trade in the northern part of the State, which is carried 
on chiefly with New Orleans through Tennessee and A/is- 
sisippi rivers 5 Tuskaloosa on the Black Warrior, St. 
Stevens on the Tombecbee, and Claiborne on the Alabama, 
all at the heads of navigation on these rivers, are flourish¬ 
ing towns. 

Forts. The forts in this State are, Fort Stoddard, Fort 
Claiborne, and Fort Jackson. 

Indians. The Creek Indians occupy the southeast, the 
Cherokees the northeast, and the Choctaws the western 
part of this State. 

Cotton is the grand production of Alabama, next to 
which is rice. 

Salt springs, yielding salt, are found in this State. 

MISSISIPPI. 

Missisippi is divided into 18 counties.* 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Yazoo, N2l\o Busha, 
a branch of the Yazoo, Black, Pearl, and Fascagula. 

Towns. A^a/c/ie6* is much the largest town. Monticello 
on Pearl river is the seat of government. Shieldsborough 
is a place of resort for the inhabitants of New Orleans 
during the sickly season. 

Cotton is the staple commodity. Oranges, lemons, and 
also the sugar cane, flourish in the' most southern part of 
this State. 

Indians. The Choctaw and some part of the Chicasaw 
tribe of Indians iniiabit this State. Among the former 
there has lately been established a missionary station nam¬ 
ed Elliot, on Yalo Busha river. These Indians have made 
considerable progress in civilization. 


* Names of the Counties in Missisippi. 


Adams, 

Covington, 

Hancock, 

Jefferson, 

Monroe, 

Warren, 

Amke 

Franklin, 

Hinds, 

Lawrence, 

Perry, 

Wayne, 

CUdborne, 

Green, 

Jacksofl^ 

Marion, 

Pike, 

Wilkinson. 




GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


S9 


LOUISIANA. 


Louisiana is divided into 25 counties and parishes.* 

» 

A lan;e extent of this State is subject to annual inun¬ 
dations from the overflowing of iMissisippi and Red rivers. 

Rivers. The four principal rivers are the Missisippi^ 
Red, PVachittUf and Sabine rivers. 

Lakes. There are three noted lakes ; Maurepas, Pon- 
chartrain, which is that immediately behind the city of 
Neiv Orleans, and Borgne. An outlet from the Missisip- 
pi into these lakes is called Iberville river. 

Towns. The principal towns are New Orleans, Baton 
Rouge, Alexandria, and Natchitoches, 

Salt. There are many salt springs in this State, from 
some of which salt is manufactured of an excellent quality. 

Staples. The grand staples are cotton, sugar and rice. 
In those parts south of lat. 30° 12', where the soil is ele¬ 
vated above tlie annual inundations, sugar is produced. 

FLORIDA. (TERRITORY.) 

By the late treaty with Spain, Florida has been ceded 
to the United States. 

It has usually been divided into East and West Flori¬ 
da, separated by the river Apalachicola, 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the St. John’s, navi¬ 
gable 150 miles, and the Apalachicola. Besides these 
there are many smaller rivers. 

Bays. The coast is indented by a great number of bays. 
The most noted are Pensacola, St, Rose, St, Andrews, 
Apalachy, St. Joseph’s, Spiritu Santo, and Chatham bays, 
all on the Mexican coast. 

Capes. There are five noted capes, viz. Caneval and 
Florida on the Atlantic coast, St. Blaise and Roman on 
the Mexican coast, and Cape Sable, which forms the 
southern extremity of the peninsula. 


* Name* of the Countie* and Parishe* in Loui*iana. 


Northern Section, 

Natchltoche* County, 
Ouachita, parish, 
Rapidc, parish, 
Catahoula, parish, 
Concordia, parish, 
Avoyates, parish. 

S. E. Section. 

riaquemine, parish. 


Orleans, parish, 

St. Bernard, parish, 

St. Charles, parish, 

St. John Baptist, parish, 
St. jaques, parish. 
Ascension, parish. 
Assumption, parish, 
Lafourche interior,parish, 
Iberville, parish. 

West Baton Rogue, parlih, 
fuint Coupee, parish. 


Feliciana, parish. 

East Baton Rouge, parish, 

St. Helena, parish, 

Washington parish, 

St. Tammany, parish. 

The above s parishes frfrthed 
a part of West Florida in 181O. 

S. W. Section. 

Attakapas, county, 

Opelousas, county. 



40 


grammar of geography. 


Towns. The most considerable towns are Pensacola^ 
St. Augustine., and St. Marks. 

Indians. The Seminole Indians possess some of the 
iinest parts of the country. 

Cotton and nee are the principal productions ; but it 
is supposed that the sugar cane, olives, oranges and figs, 
would succeed here if cultivated. 

TENNESSEE. 

Tennessee is divided into 52 counties.* 

M ountains. Cumberland Mountains, a ridge nearly 
30 miles broad, divide this State into two divisions, call¬ 
ed East and West Tennessee. Stone, Yellow, Iron, 
Bald, and Unaka mountains, are names applied to differ¬ 
ent portions of that grand ridge which separates this 
State from North Carolina. 

Rivers. The Missisippi is the boundary of this State, 
on the west. The other most considerable rivers are 
Tennessee and Cumberland. Holston, Clinch, and Duck 
rivers, are branches of the Tennessee. 

Muscle Shoals, in Tennessee river, derive their name 
from the number of soft shell turtles and fresh water 
clams found there. At this place the river spreads to the 
breadth of 2 or 3 miles, and forms a number of islands. 
The passage for boats is difficult, except at high water. 
Above the shoals there is no obstruction for 250 miles. 

Towns. Nashville and Knoxville are the principal 
towns. Murfreesborough, in West Tennessee, is the 
seat of government. 

Colleges. There is a college at Greenville, "which 
has about 60 students. Others have been incorporated, 
which have not gone into operation. 

The staple commodities are cotton, tobacco, hemp, In¬ 
dian corn and wheat. 

Salt springs abound in this State, although no salt 
works have yet been erected. There is also a warm 
medicinal spring, which is a place of considerable resort 
from the neighbouring States. 


* Names of the Counties in Tennessee. 


Anderson, 

Davidson, 

Henderson, 

Madison, 

Rhea, 

Sullivan, 

Bedford, 

Dickson, 

Henry, 

Marion, 

Roane, 

Sumner, 

Bledsoe, 

Franklin, 

Hickman, 

Maury, 

Montgomery, 

Robertson, 

Warren, 

Blount, 

Giles, 

Humphreys, 

Rutherford, 

Wayne, 

Campbell, 

Granger, 

Jackson, 

M’Minn, 

Sevier, 

White, 

Carrol, 

Green, 

Jelferson, 

Morgan, 

Shelby, 

Williamson, 

Carter, 

Hamilton, 

Knox, 

Munroe, 

Smith, 

Wilson, 

CIaitx>rne, 

Hawkins, 

I.awrence, 

JLincoln, 

Overton, 

Stewwt, 

Wasliingto^ 

CCK-lie, 

Ha^diit, 

Perry, 




grammar 0^' GEOGRAPHY, 


41 


IxVDiANS. The Cherokees inhabit the southeast corner 
of this State, among whom there is established a mis¬ 
sionary station, named Brainerd. A part of this tribe has 
lately emigrated over the Missisippi, and settled on Ar- 
kansaw river. 


KENTUCKY. . 

-Kentucky is divided into 71 counties.* 

Mountains. The principal mountains are the Cumber^ 
land^ in the southeast coiner of the State. 

Rivers. The Ohioh the boundary of this State on the 
north; the other rivers, all which are tributary to the 
Ohio, are the Tennessee^ Cumberland^ Green^ Kentucky^ 
and Sandy rivers, all considerable streams. 

Salt Springs. 'There are five noted salt springs or 
licks in this State, from the waters of which are manufac¬ 
tured great quantities of salt. 

Towns. Frankfort is the seat of government. Lex¬ 
ington and Louisville are the largest towns. The latter 
carries on an extensive trade with St. Louis, Natches, and 
New Orleans. 

College. “Transylvania University” at Lexington. 

The staple commodities are hemp, wheat, and tobacco. 

OHIO. 

Ohio is divided into 70 counties.! 


* Names of the Counties in Kentucky. 


Adair, 

Casey, 

Garrad, 

Hopkins, 

Monroe, 

Scott, 

Allen, 

Christian, 

Grant, 

Jefferson, 

Montgomery, 

Shelby, 

Barren, 

Clarke, 

Crayson, 

Jessamine, 

Mublenburg, 

Simpson, 

Bath, 

Clay, 

Green, 

Knox, 

Nelson, 

Todd, 

Boone, 

Cumberland, 

Greenup, 

Lawrence, 

Nicholas, 

Trigg, • 

Bourbon, 

Davies, 

Hardin, 

Lewis, 

Ohio, 

Union, 

Bra (.ken. 

Estill, 

Harlan, 

Lincoln, 

Owen, 

Warren, 

Bieckenridge, 

Fayette, 

Harrison, 

Livingston, 

Pendleton, 

Washington, 

Bullit, 

Fleming, 

Hart, 

Logan, 

Perry, 

Wayne, 

Butter, 

Floyd, 

Henderson, . 

Madison, 

Pike, 

Whitley, 

Caldvrell, 

Franklin, 

Henry, 

Mason, 

Pulaski, 

Woodford; 

Caoipbell, 

Gallatin, 

Hinckman, 

Mercer, 

Rockcastle, 




* Names of the Counties in Ohio. 



Adams, 

Coshocton, 

Hancock, 

Logan, 

Perry, 

Shelby, 

Allen, 

Cayahoga, 

Harden, 

Madison, 

Pickaway, 

Starke, 

Ashtabula, 

Darke, 

Henry, 

Marion, 

Pike, 

Trumbull, 

Athens, 

Delaware, 

Harrison, 

Medina, 

Portage, 

Tuscarawas, 

Belmont, 

FairAeld, 

Highland, 

Meigs, 

Preble, 

Union, 

Brown, 

Fayette, 

Hocking, 

Mercer, 

Putnam, 

Vanwert, 

Butler, 

Franklin, 

Huron, 

Miami, 

Richland, 

Warren, 

ChamoalEn. 

Gallia, 

Jackson, 

Munree, 

Ross, 

Washington, 

CUrke, 

Geauga, 

Jefferson, 

Montgomery, 

Sandusky, 

Wayne, 

Cletmont, 

Greene, 

Knox, 

Morgan, 

Seneca, 

Wiilfams, 

Clinton, 

Guernsey, 

Lawrence, 

Mutklnguois 

Scioto, 

Wood. 

ColuaiblMa, 

llaaiilooi 

Jiicking, 

filUldiOff, 




U 2 




42 


grammar of GEOGRAPHY’. 


lyake Erie, forms a part of the boundary of this State on 
the north. 

Rivers. The O/iio, from which the State takes its name, 
is the boundary on the south. It is 1033 miles in length. 
The Great Miami., Little Miami., Scioto, Muskmgum, and 
the Hockhocking, are all considerable rivers emptying in¬ 
to the Ohio. The Miami of the lakes, Sandusky, and Ca~ 
yahoga, are large navigable rivers, emptying into lake Erie. 

Towns. The principal towns are Cincinnati, Chilico^ 
the. Marietta, Zanesville, Steubenville, Portsmouth, Ath-^ 
ens, and Circleville. Columbus is the present seat ot 
government. 

Colleges. The Ohio University at Athens, and Cin¬ 
cinnati College. 

Minerals. Coal abounds in the eastern part of the State 
near the Ohio ; salt springs near Scioto and Muskingum 
rivers ; iron ore and freestone oh the banks of the Hock- 
hocking. 

Wheat is the staple production. 

INDIANA. 

Indiana is divided into 45 counties.* 

River§. The Wabash isThe principal river. It is a 
very beautiful stream with high fertile banks, navigable 
for batteaux, 412 miles to Ouiatanon, a small French set¬ 
tlement; and when swelled with rains, 167 miles further 
to Miami carrying place, where there is a portage of 10 
or 15 miles, by which it communicates with the Miami of 
the lakes. A canal is here thought to be very practicable, 
which would open a water communication from lake Erie 
to Ohio rivers. Tippacanoe and White rivers are branches 
of the Wabash. 

Towns. Vincennes is the chief town. The other most 
considerable towns are Madison, Corydon, Indianapolis, 
the present seat of government, Charlestown, Jefterson- 
ville, and Vevay, where are the Swiss vineyards, which 
yield annually from 5 to 8 thousand gallons of wine. 

Salt Springs have been discovered near the Wabash, 
where there is an establishment of salt works under the 
patronage of Congress. 




* Names of the Counties in Indiana. 


Clark, 

Floyd, 

Jennings, 

Owen, 

Ripley, 

Union, 

Crawford, 

Franklin, 

Knox, 

Parke, 

Rush, 

VanderbuFgh, 

IDavies, 

Gibson, 

Lawrence, 

Perry, 

Scott, 

Vigo, 

Decatur, 

Greene, 

Marion, 

Pike, 

Shelby, 

Wabash, 

Dearborn, 

Henry, 

Martin, 

Posey, 

Spencer, 

Warwick, 

Delaware, 

Harrison, 

Monroe, 

Putnam, 

Randolph, 

Sullivan, 

Washington, 

Dublola, 

I’ayette, 

Jackson, 

Morgan, 

SwitaetUnd, 

Wayae, 

Jeffersoa, 

Ol»Dge, 




GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


43 


ILLINOIS. 

Illinois is divided into 26 counties.* 

This State is mostly flat, and has extensive prairies. 

Rivers. It has the Missisippi on the west, the Ohio on 
the south, and the IVahash on the east. The other most 
considerable rivers are the Illinois, Kaskaskia, and Rocky. 

Towns. Kaskaskia, Cahokia, Shawneetown, the latter 
situated on the Ohio, about 9 miles below tlie mouth of 
/ the Wabash. Vandalia is the seat of government. 

Productions. Corn is the staple ; hemp and tobacco 
do well; also wheat, where the ground is not too rich. 
Cotton is raised for doinestick use. 

Minerals. Copper, lead, and coal are found in various 
parts of the State. 

There is an extensive salt manufactory on Saline river 
about 20 miles from its mouth, the property of the United 
States. 

MISSOURI. , 

Missouri is divided into 26 counties.! 

Rivers. The Mhsisippi is the eastern, and lies Moi^ 
nes the northern boundary of this State. Tl\e Missouri, 
from which the State takes its name, is the principal riv¬ 
er. The great Osage also is a noble river, 900 miles in 
length, and navigable for boats 600 miles. The less con¬ 
siderable rivers are Gasconade, Grand, and Black rivers, 
Merrimack, and St, Francis. 

Towns. Jefferson, the capital; St. Louis, the largest 
town in the State ,* Herculaneum and St. Genevieve, the 
principal depots of the lead mines which are in their vi¬ 
cinity ; Potosi in the centre of the mining district ; St. 
Charles, Franklin, and New Madrid. 

M iNERALS. Numerous lead mines are found from 30 
to 50 miles west of St. Genevieve. They are very rich, 
and thought to be inexhaustible. More than a thousand 
tons are produced from these mines annually. There 
are also salt springs, from which salt is manufactured. 
Coal and salt petre are abundant. 




♦ Names of 

the Counties in Illinois 


Alexander, 

Fayette, 

Jackson, 

Madison, 

Pike, 

Union, 

Bond, 

Franklin, 

Jefferson, 

Monigoiuery, 

Randolph, 

Washington, 

Clark, 

Gallatin, 

Johnson, 

Munroe, 

St. Clair, 

Wayne, 

Crawford, 

Green, 

Lawrence; 

, Pope, 

Sangamon, 

Wiiile. 

Xdwards, 

liamilton. 







i Names of the Counties in Missouri. 


Boone, 

Cole, 

Jefferson, 

Monlgomery, 

Kalis, 

St. Genevieve, 

GaUway, 

Cape Gliardeiu, 

Cooper, 

Lillard, 

New Madiid, 

Kay, 

Sc Louis, 

Franklin, 

Lincoln, 

Perry, 

St Charles, 

SC francoii. 

Washington, 

CbiritoB, 

Gaaconada, 

MikUmDs 

me. 

M'ayue. 

Clay. 

UOWtfd, 


• 







44 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


MICHIGAN TERRITORY. . 

Michigan Territory is divided into 7 counties.* 

The courses of the rivers in this territory are all very 
short. It is bounded on the north by the Straits of Mich- 
illirnakkinak^ 6 miles broad. At the mouth of the Strait 
is an island, on which is a fort and a village, all of the 
same name. This island is the grand rendezvous of the 
Indian traders, who resort here to barter their furs. It 
is 200 miles distant from Detroit. A little to the south 
of the island of Michillimakkinak is White Wood island. 

Much of this territory is yet in possession of the In¬ 
dians. Detroit is the capital, pleasantly situated on De¬ 
troit river. 

ARKANSAW TERRITORY. 

This Territory is divided into 9 counties.! 

Rivkrs. The principal rivers are Arkansaiv, White, 
St. Francis., and Wachilta rivers. 

Arkansnw is the largest town ; Arkopolis, formerly 
called Little Rock, is the seat of government. 

Minerals. Iron, lead, coal, and salt are found in abun¬ 
dance. 

Productions. Cotton and Indian corn are the staple 
commodities. 

Indians. Part of the Cherokee and part of the Osage 
tribes are settled on Arkansaw river, in each of which is 
established a missionary station. 

Hot Springs. Near the head waters of Wachitta river 
are several hot springs, the temperature of which, in the 
driest season, is that of boiling water. 


The Northwest Territory, lying between Missisippi 
river, and the lakes Superior and Michigan, bounded on 
the north by thellritish Possessions, and by Illinois on the 
south, is inhabited by Indn-ns, and little known. 

The Missouri Territ«'rv, extending from tlie Missi¬ 
sippi to the Pacific Ocean, is known chiefly by its numer¬ 
ous tribes of Indians, and vast extent. West of the Rocky 
Mountains it is sometimes called the Territory of Oregon, 
or Western Territory, 

* Names ef the Counties in Michigan Territory. 

Brown, Crawford, Macomb, Michillimakkinak, Monroe, Oakland, Wayne. 


t Names of the Counties in Arkansaw Territory. 

Arfcansaw, Clark, Crawford, Hempstead, ladepeadeace, Lawreace, Miller, Philips, PutaskL 







GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


45 


BRITISH POSSESSIONS IN NORTH AMERICA. 
The British Possessions in North America, are 


New Britain, comprehending Labrador, > 
New-North Wales, & New- South Wales. ^ 

Upper Canada, , - . - * 

Lower Canada, - - - - 

New-Brunswick, . . - - - 

Nova-Scotia, - - . - 


Chief Towns-. 

York. 

Quebec. 

Frederickstown. 

Halifax. 


Islands. 


Newfoundland, Cape Briton, Prince Edward's^ 
and the Bermudas. 


Rivers. The St. Lawrence, is much the largest river 
in all British America. It meets the tide 400 miles from 
the sea, and is 90 miles wide at its mouOi. After passing 
Ontario, this river loses its name. Between lake Ontario 
and lake Erie, it is called Niagara river ; between lake 
Erie and lake Huron, it is called Detroit river ; between 
lake Huron and lake Superior, it is called St. Mary^s 
river. 

The other principal rivers are Churchill,, Nelson., Severn, 
Jllbany, and Moose rivers in Nevv-Britain 5 the Utawas, 
Sorel, St. Francis, and Chaudere in Lower Canada ; and 
St. John^s in New-Brunswick. 

Bays. The principal bays are the bay of Fundy, re¬ 
markable for its tides, which sometimes rise to the aston¬ 
ishing height of 60 feet, and flow so fast as to overtake 
small animals feeding on the shore ; Chebucto Bay, Cha- 
leur and Placentia bays. 

Strait. The most noted Strait is that of Bellisle, lead¬ 
ing into fhe gulf of St. liawrence. At the mouth of the 
Strait is an island of the same name. 

% Capes. Sable, Face, and Charles, are the principal 
capes. 

Towns. The principal towns are Halifax, Liverpool, 
and Piclon in Nova-Scotia Frederickton, and St. John’s 
in New-Brunswick ; Quebec and Montreal in Lower 
Canada ; York and Kingston in Upper Canada ; and St. 
John’s in Newfoundland island. 

'J'hese immense possessions are valuable to Great Brit¬ 
ain chiedy for their fisheries, lumber, aud the fur trade 
carried on with the Indians. 


46 


eRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


RUSSIAN SETTLEMENTS. 

The Russian Settlements on the north-west coast of 
North 4merica, extend from Cape Prince of Wales to 
Portlock harbour, near latitude 58°. The object of 
these settlements is the fur trade. The number of Rus¬ 
sians is conjputed at about 1,000. Rhodiak and Sitclia 
are the principal places of trade. 

MEXICO, OR NEW SPAIN. 

Mexico, situated between 16° and 42° N. latitude, de¬ 
clared itself independent of Spain in 1821. Much of the 
northern partof this country is in possession of the Indians. 

M ouNTAiNs. The Cordilleras are the most noted moun¬ 
tains, the highest summits of which, Popocatapelt and Cit- 
laltepelt, both volcanoes, are more tlian 17,000 feet high. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Rio Bravo or 
Del Norte, the Colorado^ and the Gila, a^ branch of the 
Colorado. ' 

Towns. The chief towns are Mexico^ Peubla, Guanax- 
uato, Zacatecas, Vera Criiz^ Mcapulco, and Santa Fe 

Mexico is chiefly celebrated for its immensely rich 
gold and silver mines, the three principal of which are 
Guanaxuato, Catorce and Zacatecas. The produce in 
gold atid silver of ail the mines is said to be 20 millions 
of dollars annually. 


GUATEMALA. 

Guatimala is now independent, and extends from lat¬ 
itude 16° N. to the isthmus of Darien. It abounds in 
volcanoes, the eruptions of which are sometimes terrible. 

Bays, Lakes, &c. Honduras is a very noted bay. All 
the rivers are small 5 .Nicaragua and Leon are the prin* 
cipal lakes. 

Towns. Gautimalai the capital, Leon and Chiapa. 
The country bordering on Honduras bay is famous for 
logwood and mahogany. The English have settlements 
here, and carry on the trade in these articles. 


GREENLAND. 

This extensive and dreary country, situated in the 
north-east part of America, belongs to Denmark, and is 
valuable principally on account of its fisheries. Cape 
Farewell is the most south-easterly point. 





GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


47 


WEST XKDIES. 

At the entrance of the Gulf of Mexico, and partly be¬ 
tween North and South America, is a great number of 
islands, which taken together liave been called the fFest 
Indies. 

The most considerable of these are Cuba, Jamaica, 
Hispaniola or St. Domingo, and Porto Rico. These are 
sometimes called the Greater Antilles. 

North of Cuba and St, Domingo are the Bahama or 
Luca^-a islands, the principal of which is Providence island. 

East of Porto Rico are the Virgin Islands, of which St. 
Thomas and St. Croix, are the most considerable. 

The Caribbee i^lands extend from the Virgin islands in 
the north, to the island L'rinidad in the south. The prin¬ 
cipal of these are Antigua, Gaudaloupe, Dominica, Marti- 
nico, St. Lucia. Barbadoes, Granada, Tohago, 2 ind Trinidad. 

These islands by the English are somedmes called the 
Le»' WARD and the W indward. The Leeward islands com¬ 
prehend all those islands extending from Porto Rico to 
Dominica; the Windward islands comprise3far/»nico, and 
all tlie southern part of the range. 

Of these islands Cubaeiwd Porto Rico belong to Spain j 
St. Domingo to the blacks, who have established an inde¬ 
pendent empire, and given the island the name of Hayti 5 
St. Bartholomew belongs to Sweden •, St. 'I'liomas, St. 
John, and Santa Cruz to the Danes ; Saba, St. Eustatius, 
Cinacoa, Buenaire, and Aruba to the Dutch 5 Gaudaloupe 
and Martinico to the French 5 Jamaica, the Bahamas, and 
in general all the other islands, to the English. 

Towns. The chief towns are Havana, on the island 
of Cuba, a strongly fortified place, with a fine hai hour and 
great commerce ; population, 70,000. St. Jago, on the 
same island ; Cape Henry, Port au Prince, and St. Domin¬ 
go on the island St. Domingo 5 Kingston, and Spanish- 
town on the island Jamaica. 

Population. The vvliole population of the West India 
islands is estimated at more than two millions, of whom 
three fourths are negro slaves. 

Religion. In the islands possessed by the Spaniards 
and French, the religion is Roman Catholic ; in those 
possessed by the English, Danes, and Dutcii, it is protes- 
tan t. 

From these islands are produced sugar, molasses, rum, 
cotton, indigo, spices, cocoa, and cotl'ee. 


48 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


SOUTH AraERIOA. 

South America is a vast peninsula connected to North 
America bj the Isthmus of JJarien. It is 4,600 loiles in 
length, and more than 3000 miles in breadth in its widest 
part. 

M ouNTAiNs. The chief mountains are the *^ndes, or 
Cordilleras, one of the highest as well as the most exten¬ 
sive ridge of mountains on the face of the globe. Chimbo¬ 
razo^ the most elevated summit in this range, has been 
estimated at 20,280 feet, (about 4 miles) above the level 
of the sea, being 4,876 feet, (nearly one mile) higher than 
Mount Blanc, on the Eastern Continent. This is an el¬ 
evation above many of the clouds, which actually sail be¬ 
neath its top. 

Rivers. The Amazon^ or Maranon, as it is sometimes 
called, is the largest river, not only in South America, 
but in the whole world. The other most considerable 
rivers are Rio de la Flata, Orinoco^ Paraguay^ and St, 
Francisco, 

Seas, Lakes and Bays. South Americahas, onthenorth, 
the Caribbean sea, called, in South America, the north 
^ea, a branch of which extending up into the land near the 
istlimus, is called the Gidf of Darien. Titicaca., Parima, 
a?.d Maracaibo, are the piincipal lakes. d^U Saints, 
Ur ayaii ', aad Panama are the most considerable bays. 

Capes. Cape St. Roque, and Cape Horn, are the most 
noted capes. 

The Strait of Magellan, is the only considerable Strait. 

Islands. The principal islands are the Falkland Isles, 
Terra del Fuego, Chiloe, and Juan Fernandez. 

Divisions. Thedivisionsof South America are, 1. The 
Republic of Colombia. 2. Guiana. 3. Perm 4. Brazil. 
5. Buenos Ayres, or the United Provinces of South A- 
merica. 6. Chili. 7. Patagonia. 

The Republic of Colombia, including Granada and Ven¬ 
ezuela, Peru, Buenos Avxes, and Chili, were formerly 
Spanish colonies ; they have lately declared themselves 
independent, and their independence has been acknowl¬ 
edged by the government of the United States. 

Guiana is divided between five different nations : the 
Republic of Colombia, England, France, Holland, and 
Brazil- 

Brazil, including Amazonia, is a Portuguese colony. 
X-iike the Spanish colonies^ it has lately declared itself inde- 


tJUAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


49 


pendent of Portugal, and established a separate govern¬ 
ment, at the head of which is the Prince Regent, son of 
the King of Portugal. 

Patagonia is an unconquered country in possession of 
the Indian natives. 

Population. The whole population of South America 
has been estimated at about millions, of whom about 
10 millions are supposed to be of European descent; the 
rest are Indians and Negroes. 

Religion. The Religion is Roman Catholic, except 
that of English and Dutch Guiana, which is Protestant. 

Pkoducitons. South America is chiefly celebrated for 
its gold, silver, and diamond mines, which have been im- 
mensively productive to Spain and Portugal. The choic¬ 
est gums and drugs are likewise found in various parts of 
this extensive continent. 


REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA. 

The Republic of Colombia includes New Granada and 
Venezuela. Its constitution, formed in 1819, resembles 
that of the United States. 

Mountains. These are Chimborazo^ Cotopaxi^ a vol¬ 
cano, and Fichinca., directly under the equator. 'I'liey 
are the highest summits of the Andes, and among the 
most lofty mountains in the known world. 

Rivers. I'he principal river is the Orinoco, It is nav¬ 
igable more than 700 miles, and discharges its waters into 
the Atlantic by many mouths, the two most remote of 
which are said to be distant 180 miles. Magdalena is the 
great river in New Granada, navigable 600 miles j the 
Cauca^ a branch of the Magdalena, is 500 miles in length. 

Gulfs, Lakes, and Bay. I'he principal gulfs are those 
of Darien., Maracaibo, and Guayaquil ; the chief lakes are 
Maracaibo, which communicates with the gulf of the same 
name by a strait 10 miles wide defended by strong forts ; 
and Parima lake. Panama is the most considerable bay. 

Seaports. The princijial seaports are Porto hello^ 
Carthagena, St, Martha, Guayaquil Paiuima, 

Towns. The other most considerable towns are Santa 
Fe de Bogota, Quito, on the side of a volcanic mountain, 
at an elevation of 9,500 feet above the level of the sea, 
Caraccas, Maracaibo, Oumana, and St, Thomas, in Span¬ 
ish Guiana. 

F/ 


50 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHT, 


Population. The population is computed at about 
2,500,u00, composed of whites, Indians and blacks. 

Pkoductioxvs Gold, silver, and platina, in. New Gra^ 
nada ; sugai , coii'ee, indigo, cotton and tobacco in Vene- 
zutla* 

GUIANA. 

Guiana is the whole of that extent of country situated 
between the rivers Orinoco and Amazon^ That portion 
situated between the river Easrquibo and Orinoco is 
Spanish Guiana, and is comprehended in the Republic of 
Colombia. 

Portuguese Guiana is the southern extremity of this 
country, situated between the Amazon and Oyapok rivers. 
It is united to the government of Brazil, and is now con¬ 
sidered a part of that country. 

English Guiana is situated south of the river Essequibo ; 
Dutch Guiana, sometimes called Surinam, and French 
Guiana, called Cayenne, follow in succession to the river 
Oyapok. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are Essequibo^ Demera- 
ra, Berbice, Surinam, and Oya^k. 

Towns. The chief towns are Stabrook, the capital of 
English Guiana, on Demerara river; Paramaribo^ the cap¬ 
ital of Dutch Guiana, and the largest town of all Guiana, 
situated on Surinam river, 20 miles from its mouth ; Ca¬ 
yenne, the capital of French Guiana, situated on an island. 

Population. The whole population is estimated at 
about 250,000 exclusive of Indians. 

Productions. Sugar, coffee, cotton, cocoa, indigo, 
maize, rice, and Cayenne pepper. 

PERU, 

Mountains. The Andes penetrate the whole extent of 
Peru. There are two principal rides, the eastern and 
western. The country between these ridges is an ele¬ 
vated plain, from 8 to 10,000 feet above the level of the sea. 
It is on this plain most of the white settlements are made. 

Towns.^ The chief towns are lAma^ the capital, Cus- 
CO, Arequipa, Truxilloy Guamanga, and Guancavelica, 
celebrated for its mine of quicksilver. 

Population. The population is estimated to be more 
than one million. 

Mines. The number of mines is said to be 70 of gold, 
700 of silver, 4 of quicksilver, 4 of copper, and 12 of lead',- 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


51 


BRAZIL. 

Brazil is a very extensive Country including more than 
one third of South America. The western part, known 
by the name of Amazonia, and comprising all the central 
part of South America, is inhabited only by Indians. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are Madeira^ Tocantins, 
Araguaya^ a branch of the Tocantins, St. Francisco^ Par- 
naiba. and various branches of Amazon and La Plata rivers. 

Towns. Rio Janeiro or St. Sebastian, is the capital, 
and is the largest town in South America, having a pop¬ 
ulation of 100,000. The other most considerable towns 
are St. Salvador^ Pernambuco, and St. Luis. 

Population. The population is estimated at about 

£, 000 , 000 . 

Productions. Brazil is particularly celebrated for its 
gold and diamond mines, the latter of which are in a bar¬ 
ren district about the town of Tej uco. 

Cotton, sugar, coffee, tobacco, and Brazil wood, are pro¬ 
duced in the northern provinces wheat and abundance 
of cattle in the southern. 

BUENOS AYRES, OR UNITED PROVINCES OF 

SOUTH AMERICA. 

Rivers. La Plata is the great river of this country; its 
principal branches are the Paraguay, Parana, Uraguay, 
Pilcomayo, Vermejo, and the Salado. 

Lakes. Titicaca is the most considerable lake, 224 
miles in circumference. 

Towns. The principal towns are Buenos Ayres, on the 
La Plata, 180 miles from the sea, Monte Video, Santa Fe, 
Corientes, Assumption, Potosi, famous for its silver mines, 
Salta, Cordova, and Mendoza. 

Pampas. A Pampa, as it is called in this country, is a 
vast extensive plain, sometimes 10 or 15*hundred miles in 
extent, destitute of trees, and covered with high grass. 
Such is the country between Buenos Ayres and Mendoza, 
a distance of 900 miles, which is travelled in about SO 
days, by oxen in wagons loaded with produce. 

Population. The population is estimated at about 2 
millions, of whom more than one fourth part are civilized 
Indians. 

Productions. The provinces near the Andes produce 
gold and silver. At Potosi isone of the richest siver mines 


52 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY, 


yet known. Immense herds of cattle, mules, and horses 
fppd on the parnnas. Agriculture is much ney:Iec’ed. 

tile« are the beast of burden on and about the Andes. 
1 ( 0 men«e nuuibers are collected every year frotn the 
southern provinces at Sa/fa, and sent over to Peru. Hides 
and luiiow are great articles of export. 

. CHILI. 

Mountains. The Andes form t'le eastern boundary, 
among which there are reckoned 14 volcanoes in Chili. 

Riveks. Th'* rivers are small hut numerous. Tolten, 
Bi' bw, and Maule, are some of tlie most considerable. 

Towns., 'I'he chief towns are St. Jago the capital. 
Conception^ Valparnh.o, and Valdivin. 

Population. Thepopulationisestimated at 1,200,000. 

Phoduotions. The most northern parts are dry and bar¬ 
ren, bring utterly destitute botlj of rain and vegetation. 
More southuardly, to the river Maule, it is said, from 
November to May the atmosphere is without a cloud. 

But this barren country is the region of the mines whicb 
are numerous. Gold, silver, tin, and copper, are pro¬ 
duced here, and from the m«»untains in abundance. 

In the southern parts the country is fertile, producing 
wheat, wine, oil, hemp, and cattle in great plenty. 

PATAGONIA. 

Patagonia is but little known. The eastern part coHs- 
sists of immense pampas or plains. The western parts 
are mountainous and cold. The only inhabitants are the 
Indian natives, some of whom are said to be of great 
stature. 


SUMMARY OF THE POPULATION OF AMERICA. 


Countries. Population. Chief Towns. Inhabitant*. 

United States, 9,638,000 Washington, 13,247 

British Possessions, 700,000 Quebec, 15,257 

Mexico, 8,000,000 Mexico, 137,000 

Gautimala, 1,500,000 Gautimala, 40,000 

West Indies, 2,200,000 Havanna, 70,000 

Republic of Colombia, 2,500,000 Caraccas, 42,000 

Peru, 1,200,000 Lima, 53,000 

Brazil, 2,000,000 Rio Janeiro, 100,000 

Buenos Ayres, 2,000,000 Buenos Ayres, 62,000 

Chili, ISO^OOQ S,t. Jago., 46,000 



GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPlIi’. 


53 



Europe is the smallest of the grand divisions or quar¬ 
ters (d the world, but is inhabited bj the most active and 
intelligent race of people. 

M ountains. The principal mountains are the Dojrafeld 
between Norway and Sweden ; the C/ra/ian between Eu¬ 
rope and Asia ; the Carpathian between Poland and Hun¬ 
gary ; the Jilps which surrround the north of Italy : the , 
Pijrenees between France and Spain ; and the Apennines 
in Italy. The Volcanic or Burning Mountains are Vesu¬ 
vius near Naples^ Etna in Sicily, and Hecla in Iceland. 

Rivkhs. The laruest rivers are the Volga, the Danube, 
the Don, the Dnieper, and the Ithine. 

'rhe less considerable rivers are the Dniester, Dwina, 
Duna^ Mernel, or Niemen, Vistula, Oder, Elbe, Weser, 
Maese, Seine, Loire, Garonne, Douro, Tagus, Gaudiana, 
Gaudidquiver, Ebro, Rhone, Po, Tiber, Save, Drave, 
Truth, Hog, Hug, Inti, Thames, and the Shannon. 

Lakks. The most noted lakes are Onega, Il¬ 

men, Constance and Geneva. 

Skas. rhe principal seas are the Mediterranean, the 
eastern part ot which is called the Levant, the Archipela¬ 
go, the sea of Marmora, the Black sea, the sea of Azof, 
the Skager Rack, the Baltic, the White Sea, the North 
sea or German Ocean, ajid the Irish sea. 

Gulfs, 6lc. Tlie most considerable gulfs are BoMma, 
Finland, the Gulf of Venice and the Bay of Biscay. 

Straits, &c. The principal straits are the Catlegat, 
the sound of Elsineur, between Sweden and the island 
Zealand, the Great Belt between the islands Zealand and 
Funen, the little Belt between Funen and the peninsula of 
Jutland, the S*rait of Dover, British Channel, Bristol 
Channel, St. George^s Channel, and the Straits of Gibral- 
ter, Bonifacio, Messina, Dardanelles, Constantinople, and 
Caffa. 

Capes. The most noted capes are North Cape, the 
Naze, Landes End, La Hogue, Ortegal, Finisterre, the- 
Rock of Lisbon, St. Vincent, Palos, and Matapan. 

Pfmnsul/»s. The chief peninsulas are Spain, Italy, 
Moreu, Crimea, and Jutland. Sweden and Norway like¬ 
wise constitute one vast peninsula, united to Russia by a 

E 2 


54 


CRAMl^IAR OF GEOGRAPlTr. 


broad neck of land. This vast peninsular tract, together 
with the peninsula of Jutland, was by the ancients called 
Scandinavia. 

Isthmuses. The isthmus of Corinth, which unites the 
Morta to Greece^ and that of Precop^ which joins Crimea 
to the main land. 

Islands. Tlie most noted islands are Great Britain^ 
Ireland^ Iceland^ the Feroe, Shetland^ Orkney^ Hebrides^ 
Isle of fFight^ Guernsey, the TJshant Isles, Bellisle, the 
isles of i?e and Oleron. 

In the Baltic sea are Zealand* on which Copenhagen is 
situated. Funen directly west of Zealand, Hugen, Oeland, 
Gothland, Oesel, Dago, and Aland* 

In the Me^literranean are Ivica, Majorca, Minorca, 
Corsica, Sardinia, Sicily, Lipari Isles and Malta ; in that 
part of the Mediterranean sometimes called Ihe Ionian sea, 
Corfu, Cephalonia, <^x. which form what is called the re¬ 
public of the Seven Islands ; Candia, Negropont in the 
Archipelago, and Rhodes, and Cyprus in the Levant. 

Divisions. Europe may be considered under three 
grand divisions : the Northern, the Middle, and the 
Southern. 

The Northern countries are Lapland, Norway, Swe¬ 
den and Russia. 

The Middle countries are the British Dominions, 
France, Netherlands, Denmark, Prussia, Poland, Ger¬ 
many, Switzerland, and Aus ria. 

The Southern countries are Portugal, Spain, Italy, and 
Turkev. 

GREAT BRITAIN AND IRELAND. 

The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, in¬ 
cludes Great Britain and Ireland, with the adjacent isles. 

Population. The population is estimated at about 21 
millions—of which 6,847,000 is assigned to Ireland—to 
Scotland, 2,092,000—to Males, 717,C00. 

Religion, &c. The established religion is episcopacyj 
the government a limited monarchy. 

Great Britain excels every other nation in her com¬ 
merce and manufactures, in her navy, and in the number 
and variety of her charitable institutions. 

The Lland of Great Britain is divided into England, 
"Wales, and Scotland. 


GRARfMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


^5 


ENGLAND is divided into 42 counties or shires. 

Mountains. The mountains in England ai'e compara¬ 
tively small ; the most noted are the Peak in Derbyshire, 
and the Cheviot Hills between England and Scotland. 

. Rivers. The principal rivers are the Thames, Severn, 
Humber, Ouse, Avon, Trent, Dee, Mersey^ and the Tyne, 

Canals. The four great rivers, the Trent, Severn, 
Thames and Mersey, are connected by canals, opening a 
water communication between London, Liverfool, Bris¬ 
tol, and Hull, the four principal ports in the kingdom. 
There are many other canals, so that scarcely any con¬ 
siderable town is n ithout one or a navigable river. 

Capes. Tiie principal capes are Landh End, Lizard, 
Start, Portland, and St, Edmunds'* Point; Spurn, 
Peachy, and St David's Heads. 

Islands. The most considerable islands are, Isle of 
TVight, Isle of Man, Anglesea, the Scilly Isles, Guernsey, 
Jersey, Alderney, and Stark : the four last are near the 
coast of France. 

'Fowns. London is the capital. The other great 
commercial sea*ports, are Liverpool, Bristol, Hull, New¬ 
castle, and Yarmouth. 

The principal towns famous for their respective man¬ 
ufactures, are Birmingham’ avu\ Shefiell, for cutlery and 
hard ware ; Manchester, for cotton goods ; Leeds and 
J Yak field, for woollen cloth ; Kidderminster, for carpets^ 
Governry, for ribbons ; and G7nwces/er, for pins. 

Bath is celebrated for its mineral waters ; Newcastle 
for coals; Oxford and Cambridge for their Universities. 
Portsmouth and Plymouth are tlie principal stations for 
the royal navy. . 

Dover is the principal place of embarkation for France. 
Packets sail regularly from Ilarwick for Holland and Ger- 
iiianv ; from Falmouth, for Spain and the West Indies j 
and fiom Holy Head, on tiie island Anglesea, for Dublin. 

Mixkkals. Tin, coal, and lead. The tin mines in 
C(»rnwalk and the coal mines in North Cumberland, are 
unrivalled <*n the globe. 

V\ ALES is divided into 12 counties. Snowdon and 
Plinlimmoo are the most considerable mountains. lYye 
is th * chief river. The principal town is Wrexham, la- 
uious for flannels. 

SCOTLAND is divided into S3 counties. 

Moun I ainw. 'I'he principal chain of mountains are the 
Gi ampiau & Pentlaud Hills. PenNeves, the highest moun- 


5^ 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY, 


tain on the island, is 4,350 feet above the level of the seaf 

Rivers. The chief rivers are the Forth^ the Tay, the 
Clyde, the Tweed, the Fee^ the Bon, and the Spey. 

Canals. A canal 35 miles long, constructed at vast 
expense, connects the Forth and the Clyde ; another near 
Keil, called the Caledonian canal, connects Loch Lochy 
with Loch Oich. These two canals open water commu¬ 
nications from sea to sea across the island, dividing 
Scotland into three parts. 

Lakes. The lakes in Jhis country, denominated 
locks, are very numerous. The most noted are Loch 
Lomond and Loch Tay. 

Islands. The islands are the Hebrides or Western Isles, 
the Orkney, and the Shetland Isles. 

Towns. The most considerable towns are Edinburgh, 
Glasgow and Merdeen, famous for their universities and 
Glasgow no less so for its extensive commerce. 

IRELAND is divided into four provinces •, Leinster, 
Ulster, Munster, and Connaught. These are subdivided 
into 32 counties. 

Rivers. The only considerable river is the Shannon, 
9 miles wide at its mouth. The Blackwater is the next 
largest river. The Lilfa has acquired some note from 
the capital being situated on its banks. 

Lakes and bogs are very numerous. 

Towns. The chief towns are Dublin, the capital, 
Cork, Limerick, Waterford, and Londonderry. 

LAPLAND. 

Lapland is divided into Norwegian, or WestLaplandj 
Swedish, or South Lapland ; Russian, or East Lapland. 
Swedish Lapland is by far the most valuable. The di¬ 
mensions of each of these parts are uncertain. This 
country is under the government of Sweden and Russia. 

in some parts of Lapland, in the winter, the sun does 
not rise for several weeks together. The cold is then 
excessive, and it is not uncommon that the lips of persons 
are frozen to the cup in attempting to drink. At this 
season the moon shines without intermission, and the 
twilight, for two or three hours in the middle of the day, 
is sufficient to enable persons to read without a candle. 
In the summer, on vhe contrary, the sun does not set for 
as long a time. The heat then becomes intense. 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


57 


The chief wealth of the Laplanders consists in their 
rain-deer. Their employments are hujjting and fishing. 
Agriculture is hardly known in this inhospitable region. 

NORWAY. 

Norway is subject to Sweden, and is governed by a 
viceroy, appointed by the king. 

It is divided'intofive provinces ; Christiana, Christian- 
sand, Bergen, Drontheim, and Norland. 

AIountains. Norway is reckoned one of the most 
mountainous countries in the world. The principal are 
the Dofraftld between Norway and Sweden! 

Capes. The Capes are North Cape, and the Naze. 

Islands. The most considerable islands are the Lof- 
Joilen. 

Towns. Bergen \s the capital ; Christiana 2 iX\A Dron¬ 
theim are also considerable towns. 

The chief wealth of Norway consists in its immense 
forests of timber, and in its silver, co|)per and iron mines. 

The inhabitants subsist chiefiy by hunting and fi^hing. 

Olf the coast of Norway is the famous vortex of the 
sea, called the Maelstrom. It is heard at a great distance, 
arnl forms a wliirlpool of vast depth and extent, and so 
violent, that if a ship come near it, it is drawn in and 
shattered to pieces. 

DENMARK. 

Denmark Proper is a very small kingdom. It com¬ 
prehends the peninsula of Jutland, the southern part of 
which is called Sleswick ; thedutchyof Holstein, bound¬ 
ed south by the river Elbe ; and the islands at the en¬ 
trance of the Baltic, the principal of which are Zealand 
and Funen. 

River and Canal. The Eyder is the only river of any 
note. It is the boundary between Sleswick and Holstein! 
The canal of Keil opens a communication through this 
river across the peninsula, from the German ocean into 
the Baltic, sufficient to admit vessels of 120 tons. 

Straits. There are three noted straits ; 1 The Sound, 
between Sweden and the island Zealand, through which 
vessels usually pass, going into or from the Baltic; 
2. The Great Belt, between the islands Zealand and 
Funen ; 5. 'Fhe Little Belt, between Funen and the 
peninsula of Jutland. 


58 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY* 


Chief Towns. Copenhagen, the capital, situated on 
the island Zealand, is esteemed the best built citj in the 
north of Europe ; Elsineur, on the same island, where 
all foreign ships, passing through the sound, pay toll j 
Altona on the river Elbe. 

Religion, &c. The religion is Lutheran i the govern¬ 
ment, an absolute monarchy. 

Islands. The principal islands belonging to Den¬ 
mark, are Iceland and the Feroe isles. Icdand abounds 
with subterranean fires. Mount Hecla is a celebrated 
volcano upon this island ; it is about one mile high. 

Denmark is a flat country, generally fertile, produc¬ 
ing grain, horses, and cattle. 

SWEDEN. 

Sweden is divided Into Norland, Sweden Proper, and 
Gothland. Finland on the east of the gulf of Bothnia^ 
formerly belonged to Sweden, but was ceded to Russia 
in 1808. 

Seas. The Swedish seas are the Baltic, the Gulf of 
Bothnia, the Cattegat, and the sound, a strait of four 
miles over, which separates Sweden from Denmark. 

In the Baltic sea there are no tides, and a current is 
always running into the German ocean. 

Lakes and Rivers. Sweden is celebrated for the num¬ 
ber and extent of its lakes ; the largest is the Wener, 100 
miles in length. Its ' rivers are also numerous, but not 
navigable. One of the most considerable is the Gotha, 
through which the Wener lake has its outlet at Gotten^ 
hurg, into the Cattegat. 

Islands. The Swedish islands are Gothland, Oeland, 
..Band, and Rugen, with innumerable others, some thou¬ 
sands of which are reckoned to be inhabited, and the rest 
are desert rocks. 

Towns. The chief towns are Stockholm, the capital, 
situated on seven rocky islands, united by wooden 
bridges ; Upsal, famous for its university 5 Gottenburg, 
Carlscrona, Cahnar, and Tornea. 

Religion, &c. The religion is Lutheran; the govern¬ 
ment a limited monarchy. 

^ The chief wealth of Sweden arises from its mines of 
silver, copper, lead, and iron. Its forests of pine and fi.c 
ftre also very valuable. 


r.RAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHT. 


59 


RUSSIA. 

The Russian Empire is the largest in extent in the 
world, comprehending all the north east of Europe, all 
the north of Asia, and part of the North West Coast of 
America. 

It is divided into 52 governments, of which 46 are in 
Europe. 

Mountains. The Uralian are the most noted moun¬ 
tains, forming a marked boundary'between Europe and 
Asia. 

Face of the Country. Russia, in general, is a level 
country ; from Petersburg^ to Hekin in China, there is 
scarcely a hill. The same may be said of the road from 
Petersburg to the north of France. 

Rivers. The most considerable rivers are the Volga, 
or Wolga, Don, Dnieper, Dniester^ northern Duina, 
Duna^ or as it is sometimes called, southern Dwina, the 
Bog, OnegUy Mezin^ Petchora^ and the Neva. 

Many of these rivers, flowing through a level country, 
are navigable almost to their sources, where, being con¬ 
nected by short canals, they open a very extensive inland 
navigation over all parts of the empire. 

Lakes. The principal lakes are Ladoga, Onega, and 
Ilmen. 

Gulfs. There are five great gulfs or bays ; the gulfs 
of Bothnia, Finland, and Jliga, and the bays of Archan¬ 
gel and Onega. The three first are arms of the 'Baltic, 
the two last are arms of the White Sea. 

Seas. There are four large seas in the borders of 
Russia; the Baltic, Black, Caspian, in Asiatic Russia, and 
the White sea. By means of rivers and canals, an inland 
navigation is opened between all these seas, through the 
interior of the empire. Azof is a small sea connected 
with the Black sea by the Strait of Cafja. 

Peninsula. Crimea is a noted peninsula connected 
with the main land by the isthmus Precop. 

Islands. The principal islands are Osel, Dago, and 
Cronstadt. 

Towns. St. Petersburg is the capital, situated on the 
Neva. It is a place of great commerce, and contains 
285,000 inhabitants. 

Cronstadt, the port of St. Petersburg, is 20 miles dis¬ 
tant, on an island in the gulf of Finland; it is the princi¬ 
pal station of the Russian navy. 


60 


grammar op geography. 


The other principal seaports are Riga on the Baltic^ 
Odessa on the Black sea; Jistracfian on the Caspian^ in 
Asiatic Russia, and Archavigel on the White ^Sea. 

Moscow was the ancient capital. ReveU Wyburgj 
Cherson^ Tula^ and Jlho, are considerable towns. 

Religion, &c. The established religion is the Greek 
Church ; the government a constitutional monarchy. 

Russia is celebrated for its timber and tlax trade, its 
iron and copper mines in the Uralian mountains, its fish¬ 
eries and its furs. It has an extensive inland navigation ; 
goods may be conveyed by water from Petersburg to 
China, with an interruption of only sixty miles. 

POLAND 

Now principally belongs to Russia, and enjoys her own 
laws. Its chief towns are Warsaw and Cracow. I’he 
principal river, the Vistula. Poland is remarkable for 
its mines of rock salt. 

PRUSSIA. 

The Prussian dominions consist of two territories, en¬ 
tirely distinct, the one lying in the east, and the other in 
the west of Germany, separated from each other by the 
kingdom of Hanover, through which the king of Prussia 
is entitled by treaty to maintain two military roads. 

The eastern division is by far the largest. It extends 
about 500 miles on the Raltic, and comprehends Prussia 
Proper, Pomerania, Sdesia, and the March of Branden¬ 
burg. 

Prussia Proper lies along the Vistxda ; Pomerania ex¬ 
tends from a little beyond Dantzic to the Oder: Silesia 
is the most southern part, next to Austria; Brandenburg 
extends in the direction of Berlin to the Elbe. 

The western division lies on both sides of the Rhine, 
and is about 200 miles in length, and 80 or 90 in breadth. 

Rivers. Th4 chief rivers are the Elbe^ the Oder^ the 
Vistula, the Pregel, and the Memel. 

Canals. Bromburg canal, 20 miles in length, connects 
the Vistula with the Oder ; Mullrose canal, 15 miles in 
length, connects the Oder with the Elbe. 

Lakes. There are many small lakes in Prussia. 
Frisch Haff, at the mouth of the Vistula^ and Churish 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


61 


Haff, at the mouth of the Memelf are inland sheets of wa¬ 
ter^ about 70 miles in length, full of dangerous shoals, 
and subject to frequent storms. They are separated 
from the Baltic by narrow slips of land^ said to have been 
thrown up by tempests and the waves of the sea. 

Cities. The chief cities in the eastern division, are. 
Berlin^ the capital, Konigshurg^ Breslaw\ Elbmg, Stetting, 
Potsdam, Brandenburgs and Dantzic; in the western di¬ 
vision, Aix-la-Chapelle, Cologne, and Coblentz. 

Population. Population, 9,904,549. 

Religion, &c. 'Fhe established religion is Lutheran ; 
the government, an absolute monarchy. 

Prussia produces a great plenty of grain, and abounds 
with flocks and herds. 


NETIIERI.ANDS. 


Netherlands is a new kingdom, and embraces Hol¬ 
land, formerly so called, in the north 5 Flanders, or the 
Belgic provinces, between Holland and France^ in the 
south : and the province of Luxemburg, which is a part 
of Germany. 

The kingdom of the Netherlands is divided into 18 
provinces, of which, the 7 first constitute the country 
formerly called Holland, or the Seven United Provinces. 


1 Holland 

2 Groningen 

3 Overyesel 

4 Guelderland 

5 Utrecht 


6 Zealand 

7 Friesland 

8 N Brabant 

9 S. Brabant 

10 Antwerp 


11 E. Flanders 

12 VV Flanders 

13 Hainault 

14 Liege 


15 Limburg 

16 Nam ur 

17 Drenthe 

18 Luxemburg 


Face of the Country. Holland is mostly a marsh or 
bog, and has been gained principally from the ocean, by 
means of dykes or dams, which have been raised, and 
are still supported at an incredible expense. 

Flanders is a low flat country with scarcely a single 
hill. The roads are generally a broad causeway, and run 
several miles in a strait line, till they terminate in view 
of some noble building. 

Rivers. 'Fhe principal rivers are the/?/ime, MaesCy or 
Meuse, Scheldt, and the Moselle. 

Canals. Canals are numerous, particularly in Hol¬ 
land, there being one at almost every man’s door. The 
common mode of travelling in summer, is in covered 
boats on canals drawn by horses ; in winter, both men and 
women, and also children, travel on them on skates, from 
village to village, with most surprising rapidity. 


> 


62 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


Zuider Zee is a large bay, about 120 miles in length, 
full ol shoals, at the bead of which Amsterdam is situated. 

Ti XKL is an island at the mouth of the Zuider Zee 5 it 

has a good harbour , and a town of the same name. I'here 

are numerous other islands. The province of Zealand 

consists wholly of a number of islands, one of the most 
*/ * 

consider able of which is Walcheren, at the mouth of the 
Scheldt. 

Tow'ns. The chief towns in Holland, are Amsterdam^ 
the capital, curiously built on wooden piles ; Rotterdam, 
distinguished for commerce, and also for being the birth 
place of Erasmus ; Haerlem-, famous for containing the 
largest organ in the world ; Leyden^ celebrated for its 
university ; Utrecht, and the Hague, 

Middlebiirg and Flushing are also considerable towns 
on the island Walcheren. 

In that part of the country called Flanders, the chief 
towns are Antwerp, once the emporium ofEut'ope 5 Brus~ 
sets, where the best canrblets are ma<ie, and the finest 
kinds of lace ; Ostend, a strongly fortified town on the sea 
coast ; Lisle, a rich manufacturing town ; and Ghent, di¬ 
vided by canals into 26 islands over which are 300 bridges. 

Population. This is the thickest settled country in 
Europe, there being more than 200 inhabitants to every 
square mile. Those in the northern provinces, or Hol¬ 
land, are called Dutch ; those in the southern provinces, 
Flemings. The whole population is 5,273,000. 

Religion, &c. The Dutch are mostly Calvinists ; the 
Flemings, Catholics. The government is a limited mon¬ 
archy. The Netherlands are distinguished for their 
agriculture and manufactures. Vast numbers of cattle 
are fattened in th.e rich meadows of Holland. It is here^ 
madder is cultivated. It was by the Flemings the Eng¬ 
lish were taught the art of weaving. Their manufactures 
are beautiful linen, and laces, in which they are unrivall¬ 
ed, particularly in their cambrics, from Cambray. 

FRANCE. 

France is advantageously situated almost in the centre 
of Europe 5 and was formerly divided into provinces ; 
but is now divided into 86 departments. 

Mountains. The most noted mountains in France are 
the Ceveniies, west of the Rhone, and parallel with it. 
France is separated from Spain by the Pyrenees: from Italy 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


C3 


by the Alps ; from Switzerland by Mount Jura, a branch 
of the Alps, which, extending northwardly, west of the 
river lihine, is called the Vosges mountains. These latter 
are in the territory of France near its eastern boundary. 

Rivers. There are four large rivers in France; the 
Loire, Garonne, Seine, and Rhone, 'Fhe Saone, a 
branch of the Rhone, is a considerable river. 

Canals. There are three noted canals ; 1. the cele¬ 
brated canal of Languedoc, which opens a communication 
' between the bay of Biscay and the Mediterranean ; 2. the 
canal of the centre, connecting the river Saone with the 
Loire ; S. the canal of Orleans connecting the Loire with 
the Seine, 

Islands. The chief islands are Corsica, Ushant, Bellisle, 
Re, Oleron, and the isles of Hyeres in the Mediterranean. 

Cities. 'Fhe principal cities are Paris, the capital, 
Lyons, Marseilles, Bourdeaux, Rochfort, Rochelle, Bay¬ 
onne, Toulouse, Rouen, Nantes, Montpelier, and Calais, 
Toulon and Brest are the chief stations of the French navy. 

Religion, &c. The established religion is Roman 
Catholic ; the government is a limited monarchy. 

France produces grain, wine, oil, and silk, besides a va¬ 
riety of delicious fruits and vegetables in great abundance. 

GERMANY. 

Germany contains a great number of independent States. 
Most of Prussia ; part of the empire of Austria ; Holstein 
and Lauenburg, belonging to Denmark ; and Luxemburg, 
belonging to Netherlands, are comprehended in Ger¬ 
many ; besides which, there are 4 kingdoms, 29 smaller 
states, and 4 free cities. 

The four kingdoms are those of Saxony, Hanover, 
Bavaria, and Wirtemburg. 

The four free cities are Frankfort, Hamburg, Lubeck, 
and Bremen. 

Rivers. The number of rivers in Germany is more 
than five hundred, sixty of which are navigable to a great 
length. The largest are the Danube, Rhine, Elbe, Oder, 
JFeser, and the Maine. 

'Fowns. The chief towns are Dresden, capital of the 
Kingdom of Saxony ; Hanover, capital of the Kingdom of 
Hanover; Munich, capital of the Kingdom of Bavaria; 
Stutgard, capital of the Kingdom of JVirtemburg ; Ham¬ 
burg, one of the finest commercial cities in Europe ; I^eip- 
sic and Frankfort, celebrated for their fairs ; Vienna, in 


64 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


the empire of Austria^ and Berlin in the dominions of 
Prussia. 

Population. The total population of all the States in 
Germany is estimated at about 30 millions. 

Religion. The Protestant religion prevails in the 
north of Germany, the Roman Catholic in the south. 

Germany produces all the various kinds of grain in 
great abundance, together with wine and silk in the south' 
ern provinces. 

AUSTRIAN DOMINIONS. 

The empire of Austria comprises about one third part 
of Germany, part of Poland, part of Italy, the wdiole of 
Hungary, and several smaller States. 

Mountains. The Carpathian mountains, and the Rhe- 
‘tian or Tyrolese Alps, constitute the chief mountains. 

Rivers. The Danube is the principal river. The 
Theisy Save, Brave and the Inn, branches of the Danube, 
are considerable rivers. 

Towns. The chief towns are Vienna, the capital 5 
Prague, in Bohemia ; Buda and Presburg, in Hungary | 
Trieste, the principal sea port 5 Milan^ Venice, and Ve¬ 
rona, in Austrian Italy. 

Minerals. The Austrian empire is rich in minerals, 
particularly in gold, silver, quicksilver, copper, lead, 
and salt. 

The productions are grain ; and in Hungary, abun¬ 
dance of wine, the olive, and some rice. 

SWITZERLAND. 

Switzerland is a small romantic country, laying upon 
the Alps, and is the highest spot of ground in Europe. 

It is divided into twenty-two cantons. 

Mountains. Switzerland is the most mountainous 
country on the globe. The Alps separate it from Italy, 
and the Jura mountains divide it from France. St. Goth- 
ard is the highest mountain. 

Rivers. The Rhine, the Rhone, the Inn, and the Aar, 
all have their sources in Switzerland. The Aar is a 
branch of the Rhine. 

Lakes. Lakes are numerous. The most considerable 
are those of Constance and Geneva, lying on the borders 
of the country ; Zurich and Lucern in the interior. 

Chief Towns. Geneva, Basil, Berne, Zurich and 
Lauzanne. The inhabitants are. called Swiss. 

Switzerland produces cattle, various kinds of grain> 
and wine. 


grammar of geograpity. 


65 


SPAIN. 

Spain was formerly divided into fourteen provinces, 
sometimes called kingdoms ; viz. Galicia, Austria, and 
Biscay, in the north ; Navarre, Arragon, and Catalonia, 
near the Pyrenees ; Valencia and Murcia in the east; 
Leon and Estrainadura in the west; Old Castile and New 
Castile in the middle ; and Granada and Andalusia in the 
south. These are now subdivided into SI provinces. 

Mountains. The Spanish mountains are arranged in 
distinct chains, between all the large rivers, and nearly 
parallel with them. 1. The Cantabrian chain, which are 
a continuation of the Pyrenees^ between France and Spain. 
They extend along the northern coast. 2. The Iberian 
chain, extending from the Cantabrian in a southerly di¬ 
rection west of the river Ebro. 3. The mountains of 
Castile between the rivers Douro and the Tagus. 4. The 
Toledo chain, between the Tagus and Guadiana. 5. The 
Sierra Morena, or Brown Mountains, between the Gua- 
diana, and the Guadalquiver. 6. The Sierra Nevada, 
or Snowy Mountains, between the Guadalquiver, and 
the Mediterranean. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Ebro, Gaudal- 
quiver, Guadiana, Tagus, Douro and the Minho. 

Capes. The most noted capes are Ortegal, Finisterre, 
Trafalgar, near the strait of Gibralter, Gata, and Palos. 

Islands. The islands are Majorca. Minorca, and Ivica. 

Promontory. Gibralter is a very noted promontory 
consisting mostly of one solid rock, of great elevation, 
strongl)' fortified, and in the possession of the English. 

'PowNs. The chief towns are Madrid, the capital, 
Cadiz, Malaga, Carthagena, Valencia, Barcelona, Bilboa, 
Ferrol, Seville, Saragossa, Toledo, Leon, and Corunna. 

The staple commodities are wine, olive oil, silk, fruits, 
such as oranges, lemons, raisins, &c. and merino wool. 

PORTUGAL. 

Portugal is divided into 6 provinces. 

Mountains. The mountains of Castile and Toledo, 
coming from Spain, penetrate Portugal nearly to the At¬ 
lantic coast. 

Rivers. Douro, Tagus, and Guadiana. These all 
have their sources in Spain. 

Capes. SU Vincent, and the Rock of Lisbon^ 

F 2 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY, 




Towns. The principal towns are Lisbon, the capital f 
Oporto, famous for its strong wines, called Port; and St, 
Ubes, noted for the production of salt, known by the 
name of Lisbon salt. 

The inhabitants are called Portuguese. The prwiuc- 
tions are much the same as those of Spain. 

ITALY. 

Italy was the country of the ancient Romans, and a* 
bounds with the ruins of their cities and buildings. It 
now contains a number of independent kingdoms and 
states. All that part which lies east and north of the 
river Po is subject to Austria, of which Milan and Venice 
are the chief towns. In the north-west of Italy is the 
kingdom of Sardinia, to which belongs the island of the 
same name 5 Turin the capital, and Geneva, are the most 
considerable towns. Next follow the Dutchy of Parma, 
Dutchy of Modena, Dutchy of Lucia, and the Grand 
Dutchy of Tuscany, of which Florence is the capital. In 
the centre of Italy are the States of the Church, or the 
territory belonging to the Pope, of which Rome is the 
capital. In the south, is the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, 
including all the south of Italy, together with the island of 
Sicily. Naples is the capital of this kingdom. 

Mountains. The most remarkable mountains are the 
Alps, on the north and north-west, among which is Mount 
Blanc, the highest mountain in Europe •, Apennines, a 
chain of mountains, which run almost the wliole extent 
of Italy; and Mount Vesuvius, a celebrated volcanic 
mountain. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Po, the Tiber, the 
Arno, which passes by Florence, the Adige, and the Ru¬ 
bicon. 

Gulfs. The Adriatic Sea, or Gulf of Venice ; the 
Gulf of Genoa, south of the city 5 and the Gulf of Taranto, 
under the foot of Italy ; Italy being shaped much in the 
form of a boot. 

Straits. The Strait of Messina, and the Strait of Bo- 
iiifacio. 

Cities. The principal cities are Rome, once the mis¬ 
tress of the world ; Naples, Florence, Leghorn, Genoa, 
Venice, Milan, and Parma. 

Islands. Sicily is the largest of the Italian islands •, it 
constitutes a part of the kingdom of the Two Sicilies, 
Mount Mina is'upon this island, the most tremendous vol- 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


67 

. * 

cano in the world. The chief towns are Palermo, Mes^ 
sina, and Syracuse. 

Sardinia is part of a kingdom of the same name 5 the 
chief town is Cagliari. 

Corsica is subject to France ; its chief town is Bastia. 

Malta is subject to the British j it is celebrated for the 
strength of its fortifications. 

Elbe was the residence of the late Bonaparte while in 
his first exile. 

The Lipari Islands, the chief of which is Lijiari. The 
volcano Strombolo forms one of these islands. 

Italy produces the comforts and the luxuries of life in 
great abundance. "Hie Italian cheeses, particularly Par¬ 
mesan, and their silks, are the most important articles of 
exportation. 

IONIAN REPUBLIC. 

The Ionian Republic consists of 7 small islands, lying 
near the coast of Greece, of which Corfu, Cephalonia, 
and Zante, are the most considerable. They are under 
the protection of Great Britain. 

TURKEY IN EUROPE. 

Turkey in Europe is divided into 9 provinces. It 
comprehends ancient Greece, once the finest country in 
the world ; but owing to the despotism and wretched poli¬ 
cy of the Turks, now the most desolate and miserable. 

Mountains. The principal mountains are the Haemus, 
or Balken mountains, Athos, Olympus, Pindus and Par¬ 
nassus. 

Mount Athos has a number of monasteries and churches 
on its towering ascent, and is inhabited by thousands of 
' monks and hermits, who cultivate the olive and vineyards, 
lead an austeie life, and live to a great age. 

Rivkrs. The Danube, called the Isier by the ancients, 
is by far the most considerable river. The other rivers 
are the Pruth, the Brave, the Save, between Austria and 
Turkey, and the Dniester, between Turkey and Russia. 

Seas and Gulfs. The Black >^ea, formerly called the 
Euxine ; the Sea of Marmora, or Propontis; the ArchU 
pelago or iEgean sea ; the gulfs of Salonichi, Engia, and 
Lepanto. 

SiHAiTS. The Dardanelles, anciently called the 
Hellespont, between the Sea of Marmora and the Ar- 


68 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPIft. 


chipelago ; the Strait of Constantinople^ or Thracian Bos¬ 
phorus, bet ween the sea of Marmora and Black sea. 

The isthmus of Corinth is formed by the gulfs of Le- 
panto on the west and Enyia on the east; it is 25 miles 
in length, and 14 in bi eadih It was here the ancient 
Isthmian games were ceiebratevl. 

Islands. Tlie islands are very numerous J the princi¬ 
pal are Candia^ Negroponti and Rhodes, 

Morea is a peninsula, cujinected to the main land by 
the isthmus of Connth. 

Towns. The chief towns are Constantinople^ the cap¬ 
ital, Jidrianople, Salonichi, Bucharest and Belgrade. 

Religion. The Turks are Mahometans. The Greeks, 
constituting about one third part of the population, are 
Christians of the Greek church, at the head of which, is 
the patriarch of Constantinople. 

Government. The government is despotic. The em¬ 
peror is styled Sultan, or Grand Seignior. Next to the 
Sultan in power is the Grand Vizier. Pachas and Bashaws, 
are the governors of provinces. The great council in the 
nation is called the Divan. Soldiers are styled Janissaries. 

Turkey possesses a delightful climate and a fertile 
soil ; but is poorly cultivated. The productions are 
grain, wine, oil, silk, and most of the tropical fruits. 


SUMMARY OF EUROPE. 



States. 

Population. 

Pop. to 
Sq. miles. Sq. miles. 

Chief Towns. Population. 

*5 S 

' England, 

11,261,000 

50,000 

225 

London, 

1,000,000 

♦33 

Wales, 

717,000 

8,000 

89 

Wrexham, 

Edinburgh, 

19,000 


Scotland, 

2,092,000 

30,000 

69 

82,000 

Ireland, 

6,500,000 

32,000 

203 

Dublin, 

187,000 

Norway, 

930,000 

160,000 

6 

Bergen, 

18,000 

Sweden, 

2,407,000 

188,433 

13 

Stockholm, 

Copenhagen, 

St. Petersburg, 

73,000 

Denmark, 

1,565,000 

21,615 

72 

105,000 

Russia, 

41,773,000 

1,891,512 

22 

285,000 

Prussia, 

9,904,000 

105,770 

94 

Berlin, 

182,000 

Netherlands, 

5,285,000 

25,565 

206 

Amsterdam, 

230,000 

France, 

41,173,000 

1,891,000 

22 

Paris, 

715,000 


Saxony, 

1,200,000 

7,436 

161 

Dresden, 

45,000 

• ^ 

Hanover, 

1,305,000 

15,000 

87 

Hanover, 

25,000 

C A 

•S 

Bavaria, 

. Wirtemburg, 

3,560,000 

21,966 

111 

Munich, 

47,000 


1,395,000 

8,118 

172 

Stutgard, 

23,000 

Austria, 

28,000,000 

267,674 

105 

Vienna, 

240,000 

Switzerland, 

1,750,000 

19,000 

92 

Geneva, 

22,000 

Spain, 

10,350,000 

182,000 

57 

Madrid, 

163,000 

Portugal, 

3,683,000 

40,875 

90 

Lisbon, 

230,000 

1 

'Austrian Italy, 

4,014,000 

18,290 

219 

Milan, 

135,000 


1 Sardinia, 

3,994,000 

27,000 

146 

Turin, 

88,000 


1 Dufchy of Parma, 377,000 

2,280 

165 

Parma, 

30,000 


,— Modena, 

370,000 

2,060 

180 

Modena, 

20,000 

e*" / 

-Lucca, 

I— Tuscany, 

138,000 

420 

328 

Lucca, 

18,000 

75,000 

V* 

1,180,000 

8,500 

139 

Florence, 

) — Pope’s Territory, 2,346,000 

14,500 

162 

Rome, 

Naples, 

Qonstantinoplc, 

131,000 


_—Two Sicilies, 

6,618,000 

43,600 

152 

752,000 

500,000 

Turkey, 

9,600,000 

206 ,oog 

46 





GRAMMAR OP GfiOGRAPUY". 


69 



Asia is the second of the quarters of the globe in ex¬ 
tent, but the first in wealth and population. 

Mountains. The two principal ranges are the 
Himaleh, between Hindostan and Thibet, reputed the 
highest mountain in the world, and the Atlay range, be¬ 
tween China and Siberia. The other most considerable 
ranges are the Caucasus, between the Black and Caspian 
seas ; Taurus in Turkey, and the Gauts in Hindostan. 

Ri VERS. The most celebrated rivers are the Tigris, 
Euphrates, Jifwn, Sihon, Indus^ Ganges, Burrampooter, 
Irrawaddy, Japanese, Yangtse Kiang, Hoang Ho, Amur, 
Lena, Enisei, and the Ob. 

Seas, Gulfs, and Straits. The Red Sea, or Arabian 
Gulf 5 the Strait of Babelmandel, the Gulf of Persia; the 
Caspian Sea, and the Aral; the Sea of Arabia, and the 
Bay of Bengal, the Straits of Malacca and Sunda; 
the Gulfs of Siam and Tonquin; the Chinese Sea; the 
Yellow Sea; the Sea of Japan; and the Sea of Ochotsk. 

Peninsulas. The chief peninsulas are //i/if/os/a/i, Ma~ 
lacca, Corea, and Kamschatka. 

Capes. East Cape, Cape Lopatka, and Cape Comonru 

The isthmus of Awez joins Asia to Africa. 

Islands. In the Archipelago, near the Asiatic shore, 
are Mytelene, Scio, Samos, Rhodes, and Candia, already 
noticed in the European description, and Cyprus in the 
Levant Sea. 

The Maidive and Laccadive islands, and Ceylon in the 
Indian Ocean. 

In the Bay of Bengal are the Andaman and iVico^ar isles. 

To the eastward are Sumatra, Java, Borneo, the Mo~ 
luecas, or Spice Islands, Celebes,the Ma.m\\sis, or Philippine 
islands, Hainan, Formosa, Leoo Keoo isles, Japan isles, 
Jesso, Saghalien, and the Kurile isles. 

Asia comprehends Turkey in Asia, Russia in Asia, In¬ 
dependent Tartary, Persia, Arabia, India, divided into 
Hindostan, or the Peninsula within the Ganges, and the 
Birman empire, Malacca and other States, or the Penin¬ 
sula beyond the Ganges, the Chinese empire, and the 
empire of Japan. 


70 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


TURKEY IN ASIA. 

Turkey in Asia comprises the countries so well known 
in history by the names of Asia Minor, Armenia, Messo- 
poiamia, ChahJea, and Syria. 

Asia Minor, or Lvsser Asia, is now called Natolia. 
It lies between the Black Sea and the Mediterranean, 
and comprehends the ancient Lydia, Pamphilia, Cilicia, 
and other provinces, in which were the seven churches 
of Asia mentioned in Revelations. 

Syria is bounded north by Natolia, and extends along 
the chores of the Levant, or eastern extremity of the 
Mediterranean, to the Isthmus of Suez- It comprehends 
the ancient country of the Jews, now called Palestine, or 
the Holy Land. 

Mountains. The principal mountains are the Taurus, 
Caucasus, Ararat, Olympus, Ida, and Libanus, all of 
which have long been celebrated. 

R ivERs. The principal river in Asiatic Turkey is the 
Euphrates ; next to this is the Tigris, 

The Asphaltes or Dead Sea, in Syria, is a lake about 
50 miles in length, on the borders of the ancient Canaan, 
and is supposed to occupy the ancient site of Sodom and 
Gomorrah. No fish can live in its waters. 

Islands. The principal islands are Cyprus, Mytilene, 
Scio, Samos, and Rhodes. 

Towns. The principal towns are Jlleppo, Damascus, 
Smyrna, Bagdad, Prussa and Jerusalem, Balbec and 
Palmyra are famous for their ruins. 

Turkey is productive of the most delicious fruits, and 
particularly of drugs, gums, medicinal herbs, and odorif¬ 
erous flowers. 

RUSSIA IN ASIA. 

r _ 

This is a very extensive country, embracing all the 
northern part or Asia. The whole of it, except the south 
western extremity, is called Siberia. It is a dreary coun¬ 
try, and is divided into two great governments, that ot 
7'oholsk, in the west, and Irkutsk in the east, each of 
which is as large as all Europe. 

The other portion, lying along the Caspian, the Volga, 
and the Black Sea, includes Georgia and Circassia, and 
is a fertile country. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Ob, the Enesei, 
the Lena, and the Irtish, a larger river than the Ob, be¬ 
fore their junction. 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


ri 


Lakes. The Caspian Sea is properly a vast lake. It 
receives a nutuber of large rivers, but has no visible out¬ 
let. Baikal is the next most considerable lake. It is 
350 miles in length, and abounds with seals and various 
kinds of fish. 

'I'owNs. Astrachan is the principal city in Asiatic Rus¬ 
sia. Kiachtu is the chief marl of commerce between China 
and Russia ; Nertchmsk is famous for its silver mines 
which are wrought by exiled criminals from the interior 
of the empire. The other most considerable towns are 
Tobolsk. Kolivan^ Oimk and Irkutsk. 

Produce. The produce of the north consists of furs and 
skins ; in the south there is abundance of fruits and wine. 

Islands. The Kurile Islands belong to Asiatic Russia, 
several of which are volcanic. 

INDEPENDENT TARTARS. 

I 

This country is but little known to Europeans. The 
northern and western parts are mostly a sandy desert. 
The south-eastern part, including Bucharia, is represent¬ 
ed as a delightful country. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Jihon and the 
Si/ion. 

I. 1 AKES. The lake or sea of Aral is about 200 miles in 
length. Its waters are salt like those of the Caspian. It 
is surrounded with sandy deserts. There are many sa¬ 
line Jakes in the vicinity. 

Samarcand is the capital. Balk'^ also a distinguished 
city, and is the chief seat of commerce between Great 
Bucharia and Hindustan. 

PERSIA. 

Persia is all that extent of country situated between 
Turkey and Hindustan. The most distinguishing features 
are mountains and sandy deserts, with a scarcity both of 
water and of wood. 

It is divided into West and East Persia, under two dis¬ 
tinct governments. The line of separation is marked by 
a succession of wide deserts extending from the mouth of 
the Persian Gulf, nearly to the Caspian sea. 

West Pehsia. Teheran is the capiial ; Ispahan^ the 
former capital, is much the largest town. Shiras is situ¬ 
ated on a plain of great fertility, and is celebrated for its 
wine 5 Bushire is tlie principal seaport. 


72 GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 

The government is despotic ; the religion, Mahometan. 
Rich carpets, silks, leather, gold and silver lace, are the 
chief articles of commerce. 

East Persia. East Persia contains a number of tribes, 
some of which subsist by plunder, each subject to its own 
Khan or Chief, who frequently make war upon each other. 
Of these the Afghans are the most powerful. They in¬ 
habit tire northern part of East Persia, and have lately 
established a kingdom, called Cabul or Cabulisian, which 
has been enlargeil by conquests from Independent Tar¬ 
tary, and from Hindostan. 

Towns. Cabul is the capital. The other towns of 
note are Herat^ where all the caravans pass going from 
Persia and Tartary to Hindostan ; Balk in the country 
which has been conquered from Independent Tartary, 
and Cashmere^ famous for its shawls, in the country con¬ 
quered from Hindostan. 

Beloochistan is the southern part of East Persia, so call¬ 
ed. It contains a number of tribes under separate chiefs, 
most of whom acknowledge the sovereignty of a king 
who resides at Kelat. But little is at present known of 
this country. 

ARABIA. 

Arabia is divided into three parts : Arabia Petrea, or 
Stony ; Arabia Deserta, or Desert 5 and Arabia Felix, or 
Happy. 

Stony Arabia is a small province north of the Red Sea, 
between Egypt and Syria. Arabia, the Desert, is the 
middle part of the country, the inhabited parts of which 
lie on the borders of the Red Sea. Arabia Happy com¬ 
prises the south-west part of the country. 

Mountains. Horeb and Sinai, mentioned in the Holy 
Scriptures, are the most noted mountains, situated be¬ 
tween the narrow branches of the northern extremity of 
the Red Sea. On these mountains are many chapels and 
cells, possessed by Monks. 

Arabia is almost wholly destitute both of forests and 
of rivers. 

Towns. The chief towns are Mecca, Medina, Jedda, 
Mocha, Sana, and Muscat. 

Arabian horses are much esteemed. Camels and drom¬ 
edaries are the common beasts of burden. Arabia pro¬ 
duces many costly gums, a great variety of fruit, and 
large quantities of the finest cofiee. 


GRAMMAR OF C^EOGRAPHt. 


73 


INDIA. 

India is that extensive tract of country situated be-' 
tween Persia and China. It was anciently divided into 
India unthin the Ganges^ now called Hindostan, and In- 
dia beyond the Ganges^ comprehending the Birman em¬ 
pire, and the kingdoms of Siam, Laos, Tonquin, Cochin- 
China, Cambodia, and Malacca. 


HINDOSTAN. 

Hindostan is divided into four sections 5 1. Gangetic 
Hindostan, comprehending the countries on the Ganges ; 
2. Sindetic Hindostan, including the countries on the In¬ 
dus 5 3. Central Hindostan, comprehending the middle 
provinces 5 4. Southern Hindostan, or Deccan, the west¬ 
ern coast of which is called Malabar^ and the eastern 
Coromandel. 

British India consists of certain immense territories on 
the banks of the Ganges, of which Calcutta is the capital ; 
of other territories on the coast of Coromandel, of which 
Madras is the capital 5 extensive regions in the south, of 
which Seringapatam is the capital 5 Bombay and the 
island Ceylon. 

Mountains. The Gauts are the most noted mountains 
in India. The Himaleh mountains, which form the north¬ 
ern boundary, are accounted the highest mountains in the 
world 5 Dawalageri, the most elevated summit, being re¬ 
puted 27,677 feet above the level of the sea. 

Rivers. The principal rivers are the Ganges, the 
Burrampooter, and the Indus. The less considerable 
rivers, are the Jumna, a branch of the Ganges, Nerbudda, 
Godavery, and the Kristna. 

Bays, &c. Bay of Bengal, and Gulf of Cambay. 

Cape Comorin is the most noted cape. 

Islands. The principal island is Ceylon. The Mal¬ 
dives and Laccadives on the west of Hindostan are nume¬ 
rous, but unimportant. 

Towns. Calcutta, Benares, Patna, and Allahabad, 
on the Ganges 5 Jlgra and Delhi on the Jumna; Lahore, 
Cambay, Surat, Bombay, Goa, Seringapatam, Madras, 
Nagpour, and Juggernaut. 

The chief productions are rice, cotton, diamonds, cali¬ 
coes, silk, indigo, and saltpetre. 



74 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


FARTHER INDIA, or INDIA BEYOND THE 

GANGES. 

Ind'a beyond the Ganges extends from Hindostan to 
China and includes the Birman empire, Assam, Malaga, 
or Mr acca, Siam, Cambodia, Cochin China, Tonquin, 
and Laos. 

BIRMAN EMPIRE. 

The Birman Empire is much the largest of these coun¬ 
tries, separated from Hindostan by a very narrow range 
of mountains ; but the disposition of the two people are 
extremely different. The Birmans are a lively, inquisi¬ 
tive race, irascible and impatient. Like the Chinese, 
they have no coin ; but silver in bullion, and lead, are 
current among them. 

The Irrawady is the most considerable river, from one 
to four or five miles wide. 

The forests in this empire are large and numerous ; the 
teak tree is lord of them. It is much used in ship build¬ 
ing, and is thought superior to the European oak. 

Here are rich mines of gold, silver and precious stones. 
The rubies oiPegu are particularly celebrated. 

Towns. Ummerapoora is the capital. Ava, the for¬ 
mer capital, and Pegu, are now going to decay. 

SIAM. The kingdom of Siam is situated in a large 
vale between two ridges of mountains. 

It is watered by the river Meinam, which signifies the 
mother of waters. The trees on the banks of this river 
are finely illuminated with swarms of fire flies, which 
emit and conceal their light as uniformly as if it procee.d- 
ed from a machine of the most exact contrivance. 

LAOS is a flat country. It furnishes the best benzoin, 
and the finest musk ; also gum-lac, gold, silver, rubies, 
and emeralds of a large size. 

CAMBODIA is celebrated for the Camboge, or Gam¬ 
boge gum. The capital, of the same name, is an incon¬ 
siderable city, of only one street, with a temple. 

MALACCA is a large peninsula, containing several 
provinces. The inhabitants are called Malays, or Malay¬ 
ans. 

These countries produce abundance of rice, and abound 
in wild elephants, tigers, and monkies. 

CHINESE EMPIRE. 

The Chinese empire, the most ancient and populous 
in the world, consists of three principal divisions ; viz. 
China Proper, Chinese Tartary, and the region of Tibet, 


CTlAMMAa OF GEOGRAPHY. 


75 


s 


CHINA PROPER extends froni the great wall in-the 
north to the sea of China in the south. The chief riv¬ 
ers are the Fangtse Kiang and the Hoang Ho. 

The imperial canal intersects China from north to 
south, and employed 30,000 men forty-three years foe 
its construction. ' 

Cities. The chief towns are Pekin., Nankin Can-" 
ton. China has rich mines of all the precious metals. 
It produces abundance of grain, rice, fruit and cotton. 
Tea is the principal article of export, of which vast quan¬ 
tities are sent to England and America. Canton is the 
chief port for foreign trade. 

CHINESE TART ARY is inhabited chiefly by the East¬ 
ern and Western Moguls. The chief river is Amur, 
Casfigar is one of the most considerable towns. The 
island Saghalien belongs to Chinese Tartary. 

TIBET is an extremely elevated country, but very lit¬ 
tle known. It is bounded and intersected by extensive 
chains of mountains, of a prodigious height, and covered 
with perpetual snow. Laaaa is the chief town. 

Seas. The seas contiguous to the Chinese empire, are 
the Yellow Sea., the Sea of Japan, and the Sea of Ochotsk, 

Islands. The most considerable islands are Hainan^ 
arid Formosa. The isles of Leoo Keoo constitute a civ¬ 
ilized kingdom tributary to China. The small island and 
town of Macoa belong to the Portuguese. 

EMPIRE OF JAPAN. 

The Empire of Japan, situated near the eastern ex¬ 
tremity of Asia, consists of three principal islands, Niph- 
on, Kiusiu, and Sikokf, with a number of others of in¬ 
considerable extent. 

The principal mountain is that of Fusi, covered with 
snow throughout the year. There are several volcanoes. 

Towns. Jeddo, the residence of the Emperor, and 
Meaco, in Niphon ; Nangasaki, in Kiusiu. 

The Japanese export copper in bars, laquered ware, &c. 

ASIATIC ISLANDS. 

% 

Between Asia on the one side, and New Holland and 
New Guinea, on the other, is included a great number of 
islands, which, taken together, have been called the 
Asiatic Islands. 

'Phey have usually been grouped together, into five di¬ 
visions 5 1. The isles of Sunda, of which Sumatra and 


76 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


Java are the most considerable 5 2. Borneo ; 3. The 
Manillas, or Philippine islands ; 4. Celebes ; 5 . The Mo¬ 
luccas, or Spice Islands^ the principal of which is Gilolo. 

These islands are rich in spices, such as pepper, cloves, 
cinnamon, and nutmegs. 

AUSTRALASIA. 

Australasia, so called, comprehends New Holland, 
with all the islands that are or may be discovered within 
20 degrees to the west, and within 25 degrees to the east 
of it. They are, 

1. ATew? Holland,*" 

2. New Guinea^ or Papua and the Papuan isles. 

3. New Britain^ New Ireland,, and the Solomon Isles, 

4. New Caledonia^ and the New Hebrides. 

5. New-Zealand, 

6 . Van Liemards Land. 

POLYNESIA. 

Polynesia, so called, comprehends those numerous col¬ 
lections of islands widely dispersed in the Pacific Ocean. 
They are, 

1. The Pelew Islands. 

2. The Ladrone Islands, the principal of which are 
Guan and Tinian. 

3. The Caroline Islands, the largest of which are 
Hogolen and Yap. 

4. The Sandwich Islands discovered by Capt. Cook, 
at one of which, Owhyhee, he lost his life. 

5. The Marquesas, which are very numerous. 

6. The Society Islands, about 60 or 70 in number, the 
largest of which is Otaheite. 

7. The Friendly Islands, and the Fejee Islands. 

8. The Navigator’s Islands, the principal of which i& 
Maouna. 


SUMMARY OF ASIA. 


Cowntriee, 

Population. 

Sq, Miles. 

Pop. to 
Sq. Miles. 

Chief Towns. 

Inhabitants., 

Turkey in Asia, 

11,000,000 

531,000 

13 

Aleppo, 

250,000 

Russia in Asia, 
Indep. Tartary, 

10,000,000 

5 , 07 »,OOO 

2 

Astrachan, 

50,000 

3,000,000 

760,000 

4 

Samarcand,. 

Persia, 

11 , 000,000 

960,000 

•13 

Ispahan, 

400,000 

Arabia, 

10 , 000,000 

991,000 

10 

hitecca. 

18,000 

Hindustan, 

100 , 000,000 

1 , 450.000 

6 s> 

Calcutta, 

650,000 

Farther India, 

41,000,000 

800,000 

52 

Ummerapoora, 17s ,C 0 O 

China Proper* 

150,000,000 

1 , 300,000 

IIS 

Pekin* 

1 , 000,000 

japan. 

15 , 000,000 

l 8 y,ooo 

80 

Jeddo, 

I, 0 Q 0 ,Q 0 C 


* See Map of the World. 



GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


77 


AFRICA- 

Africa is a large peninsula connected with Asia by the 
Isthmus oj Suez* In extent it is the third of the grand 
quarters of the globe, being less than Asia or America, 
and larger than Europe. Its most striking feature con¬ 
sists in its immense deserts, devoted to perpetual solitude 
and desolation. 

Mountains. The chief mountains are the Mas., the 
Mountains of the Moon, the Mountains of Sierra Leone, 
and the Table Mountain of the Cape of Goo<l Hope. 

* Rivers. The principal rivers are the Nile* Niger, 
Senegal* and Gambia. Africa has no inland seas, and 
but one lake of any consequence,—that of Moravi. 

Capes. The most noted capes are Bon, Guardafui, 
Corientes, Good Hope, Negro, 3 Points, Verd and Blanco* 

Gulfs and Bays. The gulfs of Sidra and of Guinea; 
the bay of Lorenzo, and Table Bay* near the Cape of 
Good Hope. 

Animals. The camel is a native of Africa, and is as 
necessary to man in crossing the deserts, as ships are in 
crossing oceans. Africa profluces also the elephant, 
lion, tiger, and the panther. Crocodiles infest the riv¬ 
ers, and serpents of various kinds, the land. 

Africa may be considered under the following divisions; 

1 . Northern Africa, or all that part situated north of the 
tropic of Cancer* including the Barbary States and Egypt ; 

2. Southern Africa, or that part south of the tropic of 
Capricorn, inclu«ling Caflfraria and the Cape Colony ; 3. 
Ea>iern Africa, or those countries on the eastern coast, 
between the Tropics ; 4. Western Africa, or those coun¬ 
tries on the WEsi'ERN coast, between the Tropics ; 5. 
Central Africa. 

Bakbauy States. These are four ; 1. Morocco ; 2.’ 
JPgiers ; 3. Tunis; 4. Tripoli; they have capitals of the 
same name. Their situation is in the north of Africa, 
between the Mediterranean and the Great Desert. These 
States are Maliornetan, and are noted for their piracies 
comtnitted on the commerce of Christian nations. 

EoYpr is a narrow vale on both sides of the Nile, 
bound^ed by parallel ridges of mountains or hills. It is 
divided into Upper and Lower Egypt, which last compre¬ 
hends the Delta, famed for its fertility. The chief cities 

G2 


78 CRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 

are Cairo, the capital, Alexandria^ Bosetta^ and Damietta* 
Rain is a very uncommon phenomenon in Egypt. 

East Afhica is but little known. The Dutch have 
a few settlements along the coast. The inhabitants are 
ino«tly Arabs and Negroes. 

South Africa. This is the land of the Hottentots and 
of the Gaffers, a very hospitable and docile race of peo¬ 
ple, who are receiving civilization and a knowledge of 
Christianity from Christian Missionaries, labouring very 
successfully among them. 

Cape Colony is a Dutch settlement, on the southern ex¬ 
tremity of Africa, now in possession of the English f 
Cape Town, is the capital. The grand product of this 
colony is wine. 

West Africa is inhabited by negroes, of whom there 
are many kingdoms and states. It is the country from 
which slaves were introduced into America. This in¬ 
human traffic is now abolished. 

Sierra Leone is an English settlement on a river of the 
same name. The colony consists mostly of negroes. 
Schools are established, and meeting-houses erected, 
which are well attended. About ^0 Missionaries are la¬ 
bouring here with much success. 

Islands. The chief islands belonging to Africa, are 
Madagascar, Bourbon^ Isle of France^ the Comoro Isles, 
St. Helena, Ascension, Annabom St. Thomas, Fernando 
Po, Cape Verd, Canary, Madeira, and the Azores, or 
Western Islands. 


SUMMARY OF AFRICA. 


Coantriea. Population. Sq. Milei. 

Morocco, 5,000,000 300,000 
Algiers, 2,000,000 90,000 
Tunis 1,500.000 72,000 
Tripoli, 1,500,000 180,000 
Egypt, 2,500,000 190,000 
Abyssinia, 2,000,000 450,000 


Pop. to Sq. M. 

Chief Towns. 

Inhaa. 


Morocco, 

30,000 


Algiers, 

150,000 


Tunis, 

120,000 


Tripoli, 

14.000 

131 

Cairo, 

260,000 


Gondar, 

50,000 


SUMMARY OP THE POPULATION OF THE WORLD., 


Europe, it has been supposed, contains 180,000,000 

-Asia, 380,000,000 

Africa, 85,000,000 

America, 35,000,000 

Australasia and Polynesia, 2,000.000 


The World, 682,000,000 




GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPI^V. 



QUB^TXONS 

TO BE ANSWERED BY THE PUPIL. 


It will not be sufficient that the pupil for once is able to answer 
these questions; they ought to be put to him by his Instructer, 
repeatedly^ from time to time, till the answers shall become as 
familiar to him, as the numbers of his Multiplication Table. 


Questions on the Map of the World. 

1. Which contains the most land, the Eastern or Western 
Hemisphere ? 

2. The equator divides the globe into two hemispheres, viz. 
the Northern and the Southern; which of these contains the most 
land ? 

3. Where is it the two continents approach the nearest to each 
other ? 

4. Which extends farther south, Cape Horn, or the Cape of 
Good Hope ? 

5. Which of the four general divisions of the earth is the 
largest ? 

6. How is America separated from Europe and Africa.^ 

7. How from Asia ? 

8. What sea lies between Europe and Africa?—Between Africa 
and Asia ?—Between Asia and Europe ^ 

9. How is Africa united to the main continent ? 

10. How is Asia situated in respect to Europe ? 

11. Europe in respect to Africa ? 

12. In what zone is Africa chiefly situated ? 

13. Europe’—Asia? 

14. North America ?—South America ? 

15. Which is the largest, North or South America ? 

16. Which is the largest. South America or Europe ? 

17. What two large bays are those in North America ? 

18. Which is the broadest, Africa or South America? where 
crossed by the equator? 

19. Which is the broadest, the Isthmus of Suez, or the Isthmus 
of Darien ? 

20. How is New Holland situated, and what is its magnitude 
compared with Europe ? 

21. How is the Indian Ocean situated ? 

22. What large island is that situated directly north of New 
Holland? 

23. How many degrees is the equator from each pole ? 

24. How is Madagascar situated?—St. Helena? 

25. Into what ocean does the Bay of Bengal open ? 

26. What part of South America is that called Terra Firma? 

27. What part of North America is that called Labrador ? 



60 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


28. How is the Gulf of Mexico situated ?—What large Island 
is that at the mouth of it P 

29. What islands are there in the Pacific ocean, situated with¬ 
in the torrid zone ? 

30. In the Atlantic ocean, within the torrid zone ? 

31. Are the Azores nearest to Europe, to Africa, or to Ameri¬ 
ca ^—In what latitude are they situated ? 

32. What gulf, seas, countries and island, does the tropic of 
Cancer pass.? 

33. Which is farther norlh, Boston, or Pekin in China ?—The 
island Newfoundland, or Great Britain? 

34. How are the New Hebrides, the Friendly, the Society, 
and the Navigator’s islands situated with respect one group to 
the other ^ 

35. What large islands are those situated on the equator ? 

36. What is the latitude of the Island Owhyhee, where Capt. 
Cook lost his life, and to what group of islands does it belong.? 

37. Where is Tongalaboo, a highly cultivated island.? 

38. Of what does New Zealand consist, and what are the 
principal capes ? 

39. In what direction are the Society isles from the Sandwich 
isles.? 

40. New Zealand from the Society isles .? 

41. What islands are there in the Indian Ocean.? 

42. Which is the largest island, Boneo or Vladagascar ? 

43. In what zone is Nova Zembla ? 

44. Between what parallels of south latitude is the island New 
Holland situated ? 

45. What sea surrounds the North Pole .?—the South Pole ? 

46. Where is Van Dietnan’s Land? 

47. Where is Endeavour Strait?^ 

48. Does any part of Europe lie within the torrid zone ? 

49. Where are the Straits of Gibralter.? 

60. Where is the isthmus of Darien ? 

51. What ocean flows between Asia and America? 

62. Where is the sea of Japan, and in what latitude .? 

53. How is the island Newfoundland situated, and in what 
latitude ? 

54. How are the islands Cuba, Jamaica, and St. Domingo 

situated with respect to each other? ‘ 

55. How are the Falkland islands situated? 

56. Ho .ris the most southern extremity of Asia situated with 
respect to the equator ? 

57. How are the Marquesas islands situated ? 

58. How is Spitsbergen situated, and in what latitude ? 

59 Which is farther nor/h, the Yellow sea or the Caspian ? 

60 The Persian Gulf or the Gulf of Mexico ? 

61. The Cape Verdor the Sandwich Isles ? 

62. How are the Ladrone Isles situated, and in what latitude ? 

63. What isle is that contiguous to the Isle of France ? 

64. The tropic of CJapricorn crosses one large island, and that 
of Cancer another ; what are the names of these islands ? 


CiilAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. ‘ ' 8l 

65. What isles are those situated directly south of the Ladrone 
Isles ? 

66. Where is New Caledonia, and in what latitude ? 

67. How are the Pelcw Islands situated with respect to the 
Caroline Isles ? 

60. In what ocean are New Ireland, New Britain, and Solo¬ 
mon’s Island ?—How are they situated with respect to each other ? 

69. How is Great Britain situated with respect to Europe ? 

70. Where is Bherinj^’s Strait, and in what latitude ? 

71. What seas are crossed by the 40th parallel of N. latitude ? 

72. How is Norfolk Island situated with respect to New 
Zealand P 

73 Which is farther west, Boston or Cape Horn ? 

74. Where are the Fox isles ? 

75. How are the Galapagos Isles situated ? 

76. Where are the Bahama Isles? 


Questions on the Map of North America, 

1. How is North America bounded ? 

2. Which is most northwardly, Baffin’s or Hudson’s Bay \ 
what is the latitude of each, and how do they communicate with 
the ocean 1 

3. How is Greenland situated from Baffin’s Bay and Davis’s 
Straits ? 

4. What great lakes or inland seas are there in North Amer¬ 
ica ? 

5. Where are the straits of Bellisle ? 

6. Where is the Gulf of California ? 

7. What sea, bays, and gulfs lie between North and South 
America ? 

8. How are the West India islands situated ? 

9. The principal gulfs and bays in North America, counted 
together, are seven in number, (all without the United States) 
what are their names ? 

10. Five of the large lakes discharge their waters into the At¬ 
lantic ; what are their names, and what is the name of the river 
by which they discharge their waters? 

11. One of the large lakes discharges its waters into Hudson’s 
Bay by two rivers ; what is the name of the lake, and what are 
the names of the rivers ? 

12. Two of the large lakes discharge their waters into the 
Arctic sea ; required the names of the lakes and of the river? 

13. What riv'ers empty into the gulf of Mexico? 

14. How is the bay of Campeachy situated ? 

15. Into what country does the bay of Honduras project ? 

16. What island is that which the tropic ot Cancer just touches 
on the north ? 

17. Which is the greater distance, from the island Cuba to 
Bermuda, or from Bermuda to Newfoundland? 

18. How are the gulfs of Mexico and California situated with 
respect to each other ? 



8^5 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


19. Whit rivers empty into Hudson’s Bay ? 

20. Where is the river Columbia ? 

21. Is Nova Scotia an island or a peninsula, and what direc¬ 
tion is it from Boston ? 

22. How is Quebec, the capital of Canada, situated, and 
which way is it from Boston ? 

23. Which is the greater distance, from Boston to Quebec, 
or from Boston to Halifax ? 

24. How is fort Chepawyan situated, where the British trade 
with the Indians for furs ? 

25. How is New Brunswick bounded ? 

26. How far south does East Florida extend ?—How is it 
bounded on the east, how on the west ? 

27. What are the boundaries of the United States ? 

28. W'hich is the largest of the West India islands?—the sec¬ 
ond in magnitude ?—the third ?—the fourth ? 

;'‘'29. How are these four islands situated with respect to each 
other ? 

30. How are islands St. John and Cape Breton situated ? 

31. East Cape and Cape Prince of Wales, are opposite one 
to the other ; where are these capes ? 

32 How is the gulf of St. Lawrence bounded towards the 
Atlantic ? 

33. Which of the large lakes is the most southwardly ?— 
W'hich the most northwardly ? 

34 What river? form the boundary in part between the 
United States and Mexico ? 

35. Where does the river Unjigah have its rise ?—Where does 
it empty ? 

36. What islands are there on the Western Coast ? 

37. How is the city Havanna situated ?—Kingston ?—St, Do¬ 
mingo ? 

38. How is the city Vera Cruz situated ?—Acapulco.^—what 
is the distance between these two places ? 

39. How is the city Mexico situated, and in what latitude ? 

40. What riv^er empties into the northern extremity of the 
gulf of California ? 

.41. Where is Nootka Sound ? 

42. What towns are situated on the river Bravo ? 

43. In what latitude are Bhering’s Straits ? 

44. What is the southern extremity of Greenland called — 
of California ? 

45. Where is Cape Sable ?—Cape Race ? 

. 46. Which of the lakes lie north, and which south of the 

50th parallel of north latitude ? 

47. Of what country is St. Augustine the capital ?—How is it 
situated ? 

48. Where are the Rocky Mountains ? 

49. Where are Turk’s Islands so famous for the production of 
fialt ? 

50. Name over the principal Caribbee islands. 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY 


83 


Questions on the Map of the United States, 

1. What are the boundaries of the United States ? 

2. Between what parallels of latitude is the territory of the 
United States situated ? 

3. Which is the largest of the great lakes, and which is the 
least ? 

‘4. Which is the most southwardly, and which the most east- 
wardly ? 

5. Which is situated wholly within the territory of the United 
States ? 

6. What is that river by which the lakes discharge their super¬ 
fluous waters into the ocean ? 

7. What is that river which before the late Spanish treaty, 
formed the western boundary of the United States ? 

8. What is that lake, situated between the States of Vermont 
and New York? 

9. Which is more northwardly, Delaware or Chesapeak 
hay ? 

10. Which is more northwardly, Albemarle or Pamlico 
sound ? 

11. Between which of the lakes are Niagara falls ? 

12. Where are the Straits of Michillimakkinak ? 

13. Where is lake St. Clair i 


14 How is N. York bounded ? 

16—Pennsylvania bounded? 

18—New-Jersey bounded? 

20—Delaware bounded ? 

22—Maryland bounded ? 

24—Virginia bounded ? 

26—N. Carolina bounded? 

28—S. Carolina bounded? 

.30—Georgia bounded ? 

32—Alabama bounded? 

34—Mississippi bounded? 

36—Louisiana bounded ? 

38—Tennessee bounded? 

40—Kentucky bounded ? 

42—Ohio bounded ? 

44—Indiana bounded ? * 

46—Illinois bounded? 

48—Missouri bounded ? 

50—Michigan bounded ? 


15 How is Albany, the capital 
situated ? 

17—Harrisburg situated? 

19—Trenton situated ? 

21—Dover situated ? 

23—Annapolis situated ? 

25—Richmond situated ? 

27—Raleigh situated ? 

29—Columbia situated ? 

31—Milledgeville situated? 

33—Cahawba situated ? 

35—*Natches situated ? 

37—New Orleans situated? 

• 39—‘Nashville situated? 

41—Frankfort situated ? 

43—Columbus situated ? 

45—^Vincennes situated? 

47—*Kaskaskia situated ? 

49—St. Louis situated ? 

51—Detroit situated? 


52. What rivers empty into the Missisippi ? 

53. What two rivers, flowing together, constitute the Ohio? 

54. What rivers empty into the Ohio ? 

55. In what State has the Wabash its source, what is it^ 
course, and into what river or sea does it empty ? 


^ Chief Towns 


81 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY, 


Hie same Questions with respect to the following Rivers* 


56 Great Miami ? 

57 Cumberland? 

58 Scioto ? 

59 Great Kanhawa 

60 Kentucky? 

61 Genessee 

62 Muskingum? 

63 Licking ? 

64 Tennessee ? 

65 Big Sandy ? 

66 Yazoo? 

67 Susquehannah ? 

68 Duck? 

69 Tombecbee ? 

70 Holston ? 

71 Apalachicola? 

72 Potowmack? 

73 Hudson ? 

74 Delaware ? 


75 Rappahannock? 

76 James ? 

77 Chowan? 

?78 Flint? 

79 Savannah? 

80 Roanoke ? 

81 Altamaha? 

82 Tar? 

83 Santilla ? 

84 Pedee ? 

85 Ogechee ? 

86 Cape Fear? 

87 Edisto ? 

88 Elk? 

89 Neuse ? 

90 St. Mary? 

91 Dan ? 

92 Appomattox? 

93 Black ? 


94 Juniata? 

95 Kaskaskia ? 

96 Sandusky ? 

97 Missouri i 

98 Miami of the 
Lakes ? 

99 Clinch 

100 Little Miami ? 

101 Green? 

102 Illinois ? 

103 Cayahoga ? 

104 Utawas ? 

105 Chaudiere ? 

106 French Cree^? 

107 St. Francis ? 

108 Ouisconsin? 

109 Tippacano^? 

110 Fox? 

111 Alabama? 


112. What towns are situated on the Hudson? 

113. What towns are situated on the Ohio ? 

114. What towns are situated on the Delaware ? 

115. What towns are situated on the Missisippi ? 

116. In what State is Chilicothe, and how situated ? 


The same Questions with respect to each of the following 

Towns. 


117 Louisville? 

118 Nashville? 

119 Athens ? 

120 Oswego ? 

121 Plattsburg? 

122 Utica? 

123 Lexington? 

124 Pittsburg ? 

125 Brownsville ? 

126 St. Louis ? 

127 Fredericksburg? 

128 Amboy ? 

129 Lewistown? 

130 Petersburg? 

131 St. Genevieve ? 


132 Bangor? 

133 Baton Rogue ? 

134 Montreal ? 

135 Fort Malden ? 

136 Raleigh ? 

137 Camden ? 

138 Fayetteville? 

139 Milledgeville? 

140 Salisbury ? 

141 Kingston? 

142 Mobile? 

143 St. Augustine ? 

144 Beaufort? 

145 New Madrid? 

146 Machias ? 


147 Alexandria ^ 

148 Castine ? 

149 Augusta? 

150 Wilmington? 

151 Rome ? 

152 Hudson? 

J53 Ticonderoga? 

154 York? 

155 Kingston ? 

156 Crown Point ? 

157 Pensacola ? 

158 New-Orleans? 

159 Annapolis? 

160 Edenton? 


161. What States are situated between the 30th and 35th 
parallels of N. latitude ? 

162. What States are situated between the 35th and 40th 
parallels of N. latitude ? 

163. What States are intersected by the 40th parallels of N* 
latitude ? 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


So 


164. What States are W, lon^ituite from Philadelphia ? 

165. What States are E. longitude from Philadelphia? 

166. What States are bounded on the lakes? 

167. What Stales are bounded on the Missisippi ? 

168. What Stales are bounded on the Atlantic Ocean ? 

169. What States are bounded on the Ohio ? 

170. What is the State back of North Carolina?—Virginia?— 
Pennsylvania? 

171. What States lie west of the Alleghany mountains? 

172. What lakes lie to the south, what to the north, and 
which are the lakes bisected by the 45th parallel of north lat¬ 
itude ? 

173. What way is Philadelphia from Boston ?—Detroit? 

174. What way is Detroit from Philadelphia ? 

175. Which is the most southwardly, Pittsburg or Philadel¬ 
phia ? 

176. How is the city Washington, the capital of the United 
States, situated ^ 

177. Which is the most southwardly. Cape Fear or Cape 
Lookout ? 

178. What river is that which forms a water communication 
nearly the whole distance from Lake Michigan to the Missisippi ? 

179. Which is the largest, Chesapeak or Delaware bay ? 

180. In what State is Chesapeak bay chiefly situated? 

181. In what State has it its mouth ? 

182. Where is Cape Ilatteras.^ 

183. What capes are situated at the mouth ofDelaware bay ? 

184. Where is the bay of Apaiachy ? 

185. What are the capes situated at the mouth of Chesapeak 
Bay ? 

186. Where is Amelia Island ? 

187. ,, Cape St. Blaise? 

188. ., St. Helena sound.? 

189. Into what does Ocrecoc Inlet enter ? 

190. Where is Muscle Shoals? 

191. What are the rivers which flow into Chesapeak bay? 

192. Where is Sacket’s Harbour 

193. Which is the most southwardly, Ohio or Missouri river ? 

194. Which is the greater distance from Pittsburg, Philadel¬ 
phia or Baltimore ? 


Questions on the Map of the New England States. 

1. Between what parallels of .latitude are the New England 
States chiefly situated ? 

2. How are they bounded ? 

3. Where are the Green Mountains, and in what direction do 
they run ? 

4. Where are the White Mountains ? 

5. Which is the great or principal rirer of New-England^ 

H 



86 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


6. What rivers empty into the Connecticut? 

7. What large river is that which has its source in New 
Hampshire, and its mouth in Massachusetts ? 

8. What rivers from Vermont empty into lake Champlain ? 

9. How IS the river Hudson situated with respect to the Con¬ 
necticut, and at about what distance from it ? 

10. In what State has Saco river its rise, what is its course, 
and into what sea or river does it empty. 


77ie same Questions tvith respect to the following rivers. 


11 Kennebeck? 

12 Otter Creek? 

13 Stratford? 

14 Lamoille? 

15 Amonoosuck? 
]6 Contoocook? 
17 Poosoomsuck ? 


18 Deerfield? 

19 Michiscoui? 

20 Passaick ? 

21 Onion? 

22 Androscoggin? 
23' Sebasticook ? 
24 Westfield ? 


25 Hackinsack ? 

26 Thames ? 

27 Pawtuxet? 

28 Nashau? 

29 Chickapee ? 

30 Miller’s? 


31. What lake is that which lies partly in Vermont, and part¬ 
ly in Canada ? 

32. Where is Urabago Lake ? 

33. What is the largest collection of water in New-Hamp- 
shire ? 


34. How is lake George situated with respect to Lake Cham¬ 


plain ? 

35—How is Maine bounded? 

37—New-Hampshire bounded ? 
39—Vermont bounded? 

41—Massachusetts bounded? 

43—Rhode-lsland bounded? 

45—Connecticut bounded ? 


36—How is Portland, the capi¬ 
tal, situated ? 

38—Concord situated ? 

40—Montpelier situated ? 

42—Poston situated ? 

44—Providence situated ? 

46—New Haven situated ? 


47. What towns are situated on Connecticut river? 

48. What towns are situated on the Merrimack ? 

49. What towns are situated on Otter Creek river? 

50. What towns are situated on Long Island ? 

51. What town is situated at the Mouth of the Connecticut ? 

52. In what State is Windsor, and how situated? 


The same Questions with respect to the following Towns, 


53 Exeter? 

54 Brattleborough ? 

55 Pittsfield ? 

£6 Concord? 

57 Hallowell ? 

58 Schenectady ? 

59 Williamstowm? 

60 Worcester ? 


61 Gloucester? 

62 New Bedford? 

63 Litchfield? 

64 Oxford? 

65 New York? (city) 

66 Charlestown ? 

67 Brunswick? 

68 Vergennes ? 


69 Hanover ? 

,70 St. Albans ? 

71 Augusta? 

72 Lansingburg? 

73 Greenfield ? 

74 Newburyport? 

75 Springfield ? 

76 Provincetown ? 



GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


87* 




77 Norwich r 

78 Holme’s Hole ? 

79 Patterson ? 

80 York ? 

81 Keene ? 

82 Amherst ? 

83 Falmouth? 

84 Merrimack ? 

85 Middlebury ? 

86 Stockbridge ? 

87 Wiscasset? 


88 Bennington ? 

89 Deerfield ? 

90 Salem ? 

91 Yarmouth ? 

92 New London ? 

93 Bristol ? 

94 Newark ? 

95 Fairfield? 

96 Burlington ? 

97 Rutland ? 

98 Walpole ? 


99 Haverhill? 

100 Plymouth ? 

101 Bath? 

102 Chester ? 

103 Ipswich ? 

104 N. Hampton? 

105 Barnstable? 

106 Hartford ? 

107 Newbury ? 
'108 Danbury? 


109 Where is Monlauk Point ? 

Same Questions with respect to the following Capes* 


110 Pemaquid Point?114 Sandy Point? 

111 Race Point ? ’ 115 Cape Poge ? 

112 Gay Head? 116 Sandy Hook ? 

113 Small Point? 117 Elizabeth? 


118 East Chop? 

119 Malabar? 

120 Cape Ann ? 

121 Porpoise ? 


122. Where is Plumb Island ? 

123. Which is the most eastwardly, Nantucket or Martha’s 
Vineyard, and which is nearest to the main land ? 

124. Which is most northwardly, Casco or Saco bay? 

125. Where is Fisher’s Island? 

126. What two bays are those which, by their near approach, 
^form the peninsula of Cape Cod ? 

127. Where is Falkner’s Island ? 

128. ,, Elizabeth Island ? 

129. What way is New Haven from Boston ? 

130. Narraganset Bay is that in which the islands Canonicut 
and Rhode-Island are situated : How is Narraganset bay situated 
with respect to Buzzard’s Bay, and which is the largest? 

131. How is Block-Island situated? 

132. Middlesex canal opens a water communication from a 
certain river into a certain harbour ; what is the name of each ? 

133. Which is the greater distance from Boston, New Bedford 
or Newburyport ? 

134. Name the towns in their order, situated on the seacoast, 
proceeding from Newburyport to New Bedford ? 

135. How are New Haven, Hartford, and New London situa¬ 
ted with respect to each other ? 

136. Where is the Great Oxbow in Connecticut river? 

137. Are 15 Mile Falls above or below the Great Ox'bow ? 

138. Which is the most northwardly, Portland or Middle¬ 
bury ? 

139. Which is the greater division of Connecticut, that part 
east of the river, or the part west of it ? 


Questions on the Map of South America, 

1. How is South America bounded ? 

2, Which way has it its greatest extent, from cast to west, or 
from north to south ? 



88 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHT. 


3. How many degrees broad is South America at the equa-- 
tor ? 

4. How far south is Cape Horn ? 

6. What part of South America lies in the torrid zone ? 

6. How is Terra del Fuego separated from the main land ? 

7. What is the name of that chain of mountains which runs 
the whole length of South America —Near which coast are they? 

8. What river is that, the mouth of which is directly under 
the equator—Where does it have its rise, and through what part 
of Souih America does it flow ? 

9. WTat rivers empty into the Amazon ? 

10. What river is that which forms the boundary between 
Venezuela and Guiana? 

11. Where is lake Parima, and with what large river does it 
communicate ? 

12: Where is Panama bay? 

13. W hat islands are those near the straits of Magellan ? 

14. How is New Granada bounded ? 

15. How is Quito situated, and what large mountains are. 
those in its vicinity ? 

16. How is Carthagena situated, and in what latitude ? 

17. How is Venezuela bounded ? 

18. How is Cararcas situated ? 

19. In what part of South America is Peru?—Chili?—Pata¬ 
gonia ?—Brazil ? 

20. In what direction does the river Amazon run ? 

21. The La Plata.’ 

22. How is the city Buenos Ayres situated ? 

23. In what latitude has the Rio de la Plata its mouth, and in 
what latitude is Assumption, to which this river is navigable ? 

24. AVhere is Monte Video situated ? 

25. Where is Cordova situated, and which way is it from the 
city Buenos Ayres ? 

26. Where is Cape St. Rogue ? 

27. How is Rio Janeiro or St. Sebastian the capital of Brazil, 
situated ? 

28. How is Lima, the capital of Peru, situated, and in what 
latitude ? 

29. How is Arequipa, the second city in Peru, situated, and 
what way is it from Lima ? 

30. Where is Cusco situated?. once the capital of a powerful" 
Indian empire. 

31. In what part of South America is the river St# Fran¬ 
cisco ? 

32. Where is Chimborazo situated, one of the highest moun¬ 
tains in the world, and in what latitude ? 

33. What way from Chimborazo, and how far distant is Coto¬ 
paxi, a famous volcanic mountain ? 

’ 34. Where is Porto Bello situated ? 

35. Where is Cayenne, how situated, and in what latitude ?: 

36. How is the island Juan Fernandez situated ?, 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


89 


Questions on the Map of Europe^ 

1. What are the boundaries of Europe ? 

2. What is the most southern cape of Europe ?—The most 
northern ? 

3. Between what parallels of latitude is Europe situated? 

4. How many dei^rees of longitude does it contain ? 

5. With which of the other general divisions ol the earth is it 
connected ? 

6. How is it separated from Africa, and in what part doesit 
make the nearest approach to that continent ? 

7. What njountains separate S}»airi from France ? 

8. W^hat mountains separate Italy from France and Germany? 

9. What mountains bound Hungary on the north ? 

10. What mountains form the boundary in part between Eu'* 
rope and Asia ? 

11. W'here is Mount Blanc situated, the highest mountain in 
Europe ? 

12. Through what country and in what direction do the Ap¬ 
ennines run ? 

13. W'here is iEtna, a famous volcano, situated ? 

14. Vesuvius, another of the v'olcanic mountains of Europe, 
is situated about six miles from Naples ; what way is it from 
iEtna, and how far distant ? 

15. The third volcanic mountain is Ilecla; where is it sit¬ 
uated ? 

16. Where is Mount Pindus? 

17. How is the German Ocean situated ? 

18. W’hat is the entrance into the Baltic called? 

19. How is the Baltic Sea separated from the German Ocean ? 

20. I'lie Baltic branches out into two arms or gulfs; what are 
their names ? 

21. In what part of Europe is the W’hite Sea, and into what 
ocean does it open ? 

22. By what country is the Baltic bounded on the east ?— 
west—south ? 

23. \\ hat bay lies between France and Spain ? 

24. Where is tlie Sea of Marmora situated ? 

25. What Gull separates Italy from Turkey ? 

26. \\ here is the Archipelago situated, and with what sea 
does it communicate ? 

27. Where is the British Channel ? 

28. What Strait communicates between the German ocean, 
and the British Channel ? 

29. Through what Strait does the Atlantic constantly flow in¬ 
to the Mediterranean ? 

30. Where is St. George’s Channel? 

31. Between w'hat seas is the Strait of Dardanelles ? 

32. Between what seas is the Strait of Constantinople ? 

33. Between what seas is the Strait of Calfa ? 

34. In what part of Europe is Lapland ? 

H 2 


90 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHr. 


35—How is Norway bounded ? 

37—Sweden bounded ? 

39—Denmark bounded ? 

41—Russia bounded ? 

43— Germany bounded? 

44— France bounded ? 

46—Aiist Demin bounded ? 

48—Spain bounded ? 

50—Portugal bounded ? 

52—Switzerland bounded? 

54—Italy bounded ? 

56—Turkey (in Eur.) bounded ? 


36—How is Bergen, the capital, 
situated ? 

38—Stockholm situated ? 

40—Copenhagen situated ? 

42—St. Petersburg situated? 

45—Paris situated ? 

47—Vienna situated ? 

49—Madrid situated ? 

51—Lisbon situated ? 

53—Berne situated ? 

55—Rome situated ? 

57—Constantinople situated 


58. How are the British Isles situated with respect to the rest 
of Europe ? 

59. Where does the Danube have its rise, through what 
countries does it flow, and into what sea does it empty ? 

60. What cities and towns are situated on the Danube ? 

61. What are the principal rivers of Spain ? 

62. Which of the rivers rising in Spain flow through Por¬ 
tugal .? 

63. In what part of Spain is the Minho ?—is it a large or small 
river ?—into what sea does it empty ? 

64. Where is the Guadalquiver, what is its course, and where 
does it empty ? 

65. The same questions with respect to the Ebro. 

66. What are the principal rivers of France ? 

67. Which of these rivers empty into the bay of Biscay?— 
which into the Mediterranean ?—and which into the British 
Channel ? 

68. What is that river which forms the boundary between 
France and Germany ?—where does it have its rise, and into 
what sea does it empty ? 

69. What are the rivers of Germany.^ 

70. Which of the rivers of Germany empty into the German 
Ocean, and which into the Baltic sea ? 

71. What river forms the boundary between Turkey and 
Russia, and into what sea does it empty ? 

72. What river forms tlie boundary in part between Turkey 
and the Austrian Dominions ? 

73. What are the principal branches of the Danube ? 

74. Where does the Dnieper have its rise, what town is that 
situated near its mouth, and into what sea does it empty ? 

75. What river is that which empties into the sea of Azof? 

76. Where is the river Po, and into what sea or gulf does it 
empty ? 

_77. What river is that on which Rome is situated ? 

78. Into what sea does the river Dwina empty, and what 
town is that situated at its mouth? 


GRAMMAR OP GEOGRAPHY. 


•9J 


79. Beginning at the Straits of Gibraiter and proceeding north- 
vard, what rivers fall into the Atlantic ? name them in the order 
in which they occur. 

80. -into the bay of Biscay ? 

81. -- into the Hr'tish Channel ? 

82. -into tho German Ocean - 

83. -into the Baltic? 

84. -into the White Sea I 

85. What towns are situated on the Elbe ? 

86. On what river is Warsaw situated ?—Stetting ?—Seville ? 

87. On what river is Bourdeaux situated?—Saragossa?—Ly¬ 
ons ? 

88. How is Oporto situated .’-Archangel, and in what latitude ? 

89. What towns are situated on the Dnieper ? 

90. What is the communication by water through France, 
from the Mediterranean into the bay of Biscay ? 

91. In what country is Toulon, and how situated ? 


The same Questions with respect to each of the following 

Cities or 'J'owns, 


92 Malaga ? 

93 Bayonne ? 

94 Naples ? 

9.1 Kochelle ? 

96 Frankfort ? 

97 Gottenburg? 

98 Waterford ? 

99 Saragossa ? 

100 Florence ? 

101 Cork ? 

102 Abo ? 

103 Athens ? 


104 Belgrade ? 

105 Nantes ? 

106 Adrianople? 

107 Cadiz ? 

108 Trieste ? 

109 Hamburg ? 

110 Upsal ? 

J11 B^iga ? 

112 Calais ? 

113 Valencia ? 

114 Tilsit? 

115 Cherson ? 


116 St. Ubes? 

117Carthagena? 

118 Danizic ? 

119 Brest ? 

120 V’^enice ? 

121 Munich? 
12^ Leghorn? 

123 Montpelier? 

124 Tornea ? 

125 Limerick ? 

126 Konigsburg? 

127 Milan ? 


128 Brussels ? 

129 Prague ? 

130 Hague ? 

131 Revel ? 

132 Rochfort ? 

133 Smolensk ? 

134 Stiitgard? 
135Car]scrona ? 

136 Genoa ? 

137 Leipsic ? 

138 Drontheim ? 

139 Cracow' ? 


140. Which is most northwardly, Madrid or Constantinople ? 

141. M'hat way is Petersburg from London ? 

142. What islands are in the Baltic ? 

143. How are the Hebrides or Western islands situated ? 

144. Which are the most northwardly, the Orkney or Shetland 
Isles ? 

145. Where are the Feroe islands situated, and in what lat¬ 
itude ? 

146. Is Tvica, Minorca, or Majorca, nearest Spain ? 

147. Which is the most southwardly, Sardinia or Corsica? 

148. How is Sicily situated, and what towns are there upon it ? 

149. In what direction is Malta from Sicily, and how far dis¬ 
tant ? 

150. I'he meridian of 25°, and the parallel of 35o, intersect 
each other nearly over the centre of a certain island ; what ia 
the name of that island ? 

151. Where is the isle Ushant? 

152. What islands are in the Bay of Biscay? 

153. Describe the course of the Volga; into what sea doesR 
empty ? 







92 


grammar of geography. 


154. Where are the Lipari islands situated? 

155. How is Negropont situated, and in what sea? 

156. What is the name of that cape to the north of Lapland ? 

157. What is that Cape to the south of Norway? 

158. Where is Cape la Hogue ?—Cape Clear ? 

159. W'hatare the principal capes oi Spain and Portugal ? 

160. What is the most soulhwardly cape of Turkey ? 

161. The capitals of three kingdoms are situated very nearly 
on the parallel of 6 (i° N. latitude *, what are the names of the 
kingdoms and their capitals ? 

162. Which is the most northwardly, Copenhagen or Konigs- 
burg ? 

163. Boston is between 4^^® and 43° N. latitude ; what cities 
in Europe are situated directly east from Boston, or nearly so ? 

164. By comparing the Map of the United States with that of 
Europe, which of the States does it appear are situated southward¬ 
ly of the most southern part of Europe ? 

165. A very noted strait of Europe, and the mouth of a very 
distinguished river in the United States, are in the same latitude ; 
what is the name of the strai< and of the river ? 

166. Which of the large lakes in the United States are situat¬ 
ed in the same parallels of latitude with the black sea in Europe ? 


Questions on the Map of the British Isles. 

1. How is Ireland separated from England ?—from Scotland? 

2. Where is the Bristol Channel ?—The Strait of Dover ? 

3. What river is that which forms the boundary in part be¬ 
tween England and Scotland ? 

4. Where is Cape Wrath ?—Land’s End ?—Spurn Head ? 

5. Where is Carnsore Point ?—Start, St. Edmands’, and Liz¬ 
ard Points ? 

6. Where is the river Thames, what is its course, and into 
what sea does it empty ? 


The same Questions with respect to each of the following 

Rivers. 


7 Humber ? 

8 Shannon ? 

9 C, lyde ? 

10 Sevarn ? 


11 Tay ? 15 Dee ? 

12 Mersey? 16 Tyne 

13 Trent? 17 Ouse ? 

14 Blackwater ? 18 Don ^ 


19 Medway ? 

20 Barrow ? 

21 Spey ? 

22 Tweed ? 


23. 


34 Deal ? 

35 Windsor.® 

36 Leeds^ 

37 Dublin.? 

38 Wakefield.? 

39 Shields ? 

40 Waterford 9 

41 Portsmouth ? 


42Londonderry.? 50 York.? 

43 Bristol.? 51 Limerick.? 

44 Manchester.? 5‘2 Bath .? 

45 Gloucester 9 53 Cambridge 9 

46 Glasgow 9 54 Sheffield 9 

47 Liverpool 9 55 Oxford 9 

48 Hull.? 56 Kiddermui- 

49 Edinburgh 9 ter 9 


Where is London, and how situated 9 


33 Birmingham? 


24 Plymouth 9 

25 Newcastle 9 

26 Wexford.? 

27 Aberdeen? 

28 Pool.? 

29 Dartmouth 9 

30 Yarmouth 9 

31 Tunbridge 9 

32 Cork.? 



GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAFKY. 




57. Which is the largest, England or Ireland? 

58. Between what degrees of latitude is England situated?— 
Scotland ?—Ireland ? 

59. In what sea are the Isles of JVlan and Anglesea situated, 
and how in respect to each other ? 

60. How is the Isle of Wight situated ? 

61. How are London, Bristol, Liverpool, and Hull situated 
in respect to each other ? 

62. Comparing the latitude of London with that of the gulf of 
St. Law'rence on the map of N. America, which is the most 
northwardly ? 

63. W'hat is the latitude of Edinburgh—Dublin? 

64. Where is Inverness ? 


Questions on the Map of Asia. 

1. What are the boundaries of Asia / 

2. What is the name of its most northwardly cape ? 

3. What part of it stretches farthest to the south 

4. There are four considerable seas on the east and southeast 
of Asia: Name them. 

5. Through what sea does the Red Sea communicate with the 
ocean 

6. W'here is the sea of Aral situated ?—what way is it from 
the Caspian Sea f 

7. Between what countries is the Persian Gulf.? 

8. W hat is that bay which divides India into two peninsulas^ 
the Hither Peninsula, called Hindostan, and the Further Penin¬ 
sula, comprehending the Birman, and other empires.? 

9. Where are the Straits of Sunda .? 

10. Where is the Malabar coast.? what islands w'est of it.? 

11. Where are the Andaman and Nicobar islands 

12. How is the island Ceylon situated .?—what are its chief 
towns.? 

13. What is that cape called which forms the southern ex¬ 
tremity of Hindostan.? 

14. Of what island is Manilla the capital.? 

15. Wdiere are the Straits of Malacca.? 

16. Of what island is Batavia the capital, and in what lat¬ 
itude .? 

17. Where is the island Banca situated, so productive in 
tin.? 

18. How are the gulfs Tonquin and Siam situated w’ith respect 
to each other.? Into what sea do they open .? 

19. W’hat are those large rivers ol Asia w'hich empty into the 
Arctic sea ? 

20. W here is the Island Saghalien.? 


f 



94 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


21. What is that cape called which forms the southern ex¬ 
tremity of Kamschatka ? 

22. What rivers empty into the Aral sea ? 

23. What rivers empty into the Persian Gulf.^ 

24. What Straits separate Asia from America ? 

25. What chain of mountains separates Europe from Asia ? 

26. What chain of mountains extends across the centre of 
Asia ? 

27. Where are the Caucasus mountains ? 

28. What is the name of the mountains in Hindostan, and 
how are they situated ? 

29. Where is Mount Taurus, and how situated.? 

30. What part of Asia takes the name of Siberia, and to whom 
does it belong ? 

31. Does any part of Asia lie within the Frigid zone ? 

32. What countries of Asia lie within the Torrid zone ? 


33—How is Turkey in Asia 
bounded ? 

35—Russia in Asia bounded ? 

37—Indep. Tartary bounded.? 
39—Persia bounded ? 

41—Hindostan bounded? 

43—Arabia bounded 7 
45—China bounded 7 


34—How is Aleppo, the capital, 
situated 7 

36—Astraohan situated 7 
38—Samarcand situated 7 
40—Ispahan situated? 

42—Calcutta situated ? 

44—Mecca situated? 

46—Pekin situated? 


47. Which ia the principal of the Chinese islands ? 

48. Eow is Jeddo the capital of the Japan empire situated { 
Give the rise and course of the following rivers, and the seas, &c. 
into which they empty. 


49 Euphrates? 

60 Amur ? 

51 Ob? 

52 Tigris? 

63 Burrampooter ? 


54 Enisei ? 

55 Ganges? 

56 Jihon? 

57 PloangHo? 

58 Indus? 


59 Yangtse Kiang? 

60 Lena ? 

61 Irrawady? 

62 Irtish? 

63 Japanese? 


64. Of what country is Mocha, and how situated ? 


65 Madras ? 

66 Smyrna ? 

67 Suez? 

68 Canton? 

69 Bombay ? 

70 Tobolsk? 

71 Cashmere ? 

72 Bagdad ? 

73 Ava? 

74 Kolivan? 


75 Delhi? 

76 Goa? 

77 Diarbekir? 

78 Cambay? 

79 Bassora ? 

80 Nankin ? 

81 Yakutsk? 

82 Cashgar ? 

83 Lassa ? 

84 Irkutsk? 


85 Medina ? 

86 Surat ? 

87 Sana ? 

88 Palmyra ? 

89 Pondicherry? 

90 Pegu ? 

91 Bencoolen ? 

92 Nagpour ? 

93 Nangasaki ? 

94 Cambodia? 


95 Lahore ? 

96 Rangoon? 

97 Golconda? 

98 Siam ? 

99 Jerusalem? 

100 Omsk ? 

101 Acheen? 

102 Balk? 

103 Damascus? 

104 Columbo? 


GRAMMAR OF GEOGRAPHY. 


95 


105. What towns are situated on the Ganges? 

106. How are Canton, Calcutta, and Pekin situated 
witli respect to eath olljer ? 

107. What large islands are those situated directly 
under the equator ? 

108. How is the island Sumatra separated from Ma¬ 
lacca and Java ? 

109. What island is that which the tropic of Cancer 
crosses ? 

110. How do the Japanese Islands lie from China, and 
between what parallels of latitude are they situated ? 

111. How do the Spice Islands lie from Java? 

112. How is Nova Zembla situated, and in what lat.? 

113. Where is East Cape ? 

114. How is the Sea of Arabia bounded ? 

115. One of the chief cities in the United States, and 
one of the chief cities in China, are situated on the same 
parallel of N. lat. ; what are the names of these cities ? 

116. In what latitude is the great wall in China, and 
what countries does it separate ? 


Questions on the Map of JJfrica. 

1. How is Africa bounded ? 

2. How could it be made an island ? 

3. What isthmus unites it to Asia? 

4. - How is Sahara or the Great Desert situated ? 

5. Where are the Atlas mountains situated ? 

6. What is.that range of mountains which runs almost 
across Africa? 

7. In what part of Africa are Algiers, Morocco, Trip¬ 
oli, and Tunis, called the Barbary States, situated ? 

8. Which of these States lie without and which with¬ 
in the Straits of Gibralter ? 

9. Sailing up the Mediterranean, in what order do 
you approach these States ? 

10. What large rivers are those in the west of Africa ? 

11. Where is the river Zaire ?—Orange river ? 

12. Where is Cape Verd, and how situated with re¬ 
spect to the rivers Senegal and Gambia ? 

13. Where is the river Niger, the mouth of which 
has not yet been explored ? 




Egyptians. Turks. 



Chines*. Hottentots. 













0::^ The “ Interrogative System” of teaching has now become 
very general in almost every branch of school education. The in¬ 
troduction may be traced to the Scholar’s Arithmetic, in 1801, 
many years before the appearance of Goldsmith and of Guy in our 
country. A further improvement in this system is here attempted, 
and inste.ad of printing the question at length, which necessarily 
swells the book, a character (9) is introduced, intimating both to 
the Instructer and to the pupil, that a question is required, and this 
character is invariably placed before the word or words intended 
to ask the qu«stion, and to which the answer, found by reading 
THE SENTENCE, is to be a direct reply. For example, take tlie first 
sentence; the character is placed before tlie words, “ certain knowl¬ 
edge the question then is, Had the ancients any certain knowl¬ 
edge of the figure of the earth The answer, from reading the 
the sentence, is evident, No; or they had not. 

Where the construction of the sentence suggests no particular 
form in which to put the question, it may be, VVhat is said of, &c. 
as for instance, under the article, “Agriculture,” in Massachusetts; 
the character is placed before the word, “ agriculture the question 
then may be, Wliat is said of the agriculture of Massachusetts ? 

Let the class be directed to meditate answers to the queations to 
be asked on those subjects or words before which the character is 
placed. After reading, let those questions be put by the instructer, 
and answered by the class in rotation. The exercise will be found 
both profitable and entertaining. 



THE WORLD. 

The ancients had no ^certain knowledge of the figure 
of the earth. But later discoveries, both by astronomy 
and navigation, demonstrate the world we inhabit to be a 
large opaque globe or ball, nearly eight thousand ’miles 
in tliamcter. In proof of this it is only necessary to no¬ 
tice, that various navigators have actually sailed round it. 
Of these, the ’first was Sir Francis Drake, who, in 1580, 
completed the circumnavigation of the globe, after an 
absence of two years, ten months, and twenty Aiys, from 
England his native land. 

About two thirds of the ’surfac(rof the earth are cov*- 
ered with water. In respect to its universal communica¬ 
tion, the ocean may be regarded as one; but for geo- 


98 


THE WORLD. 


graphical purposes it has been found more convenie^nt to 
consider it a« di^tribuied into portions or parts The 
^largest of these parts, Constituting nearly’'one half of 
the surface of the globe, is the Pacific Ocean, so called 
from the tranquillity observed by navigators in crossing it 
in certain directions. Its ^vvidfh is generally computed 
' at 10,000 ndles. ^Next in extent is the Atlantic, 3,000 
miles ^wide. The Indian Ocean may be reckoned the 
^third that is ranked in this class. The seas called Arc¬ 
tic, and Antarctic, from their situation near tiie poles, are 
properly branches of the Pacific and Atlantic. They 
are expansions of ice rather than of water, undissolved 
through successive ages. 

This distribution and proportion of land and water is an in¬ 
controvertible evidence of the wisdom and goodness of our 
ado< able Creator ; for thus the earth is rendered a suita¬ 
ble and commodious Imbiiation for man ; the blessings 
and advantages of commerce are augmented ; and those 
extensive seas, which aflbi d a free intercourse between 
distant nations, are productive of the most felicitous con¬ 
sequences to the land, by supplying a suitable quantity of 
vapours for the fonnation of clouds, vvhich, in the elegant 
language of scripture, diop down fatness upon the wil¬ 
derness, while tlie little hills rejoice on every side. 

Religion, Euroj e, with the exception of Turkey, is 
wholly Christian ; but a great portion of Asia, the Ne¬ 
groes in Africa, the Indians in America, the itihabiiants of 
New Holland, and of most of the islands in the Pacific 
ocean, are still ^Pagan. 

Turkey, Arabia, Persia, Tar’ary, the Barbary States 
in Africa, and some parts of India, are ^Mahometan. 

Admitting ihe whole popuiaiion of the world to be 
700 millions, it is supposed that 350 millions, or one half 
of the ^whole population are Pagans ; the ^Christian pop¬ 
ulation may be about niiilions, the ^Mahometan, lisiO 
millions, and the ^Jews, 5 millions. 

liible and Alis^ionmy Societies. A most wonderful 
system of measures is now in operation to extend the 
blessings of Christianity, by means of Bible and Missioiia- 
ry Societies, to all parts ot the world. The success is al¬ 
ready such as to prove highly animating to the hearts of 
Christians. The inhabitants of the Sundvich^ and of the 
Society islands, have already renounced their idols. Mis¬ 
sionaries are received with great aftection by the Indians 
in America, by the Negroes in Africa; also, in Hindostan, 
Australasia, and in many other parts of the world. 


AMERICA. 


. 9.9 

Bible Societies have been ^institutcfl in Enjrlanfl, Scot¬ 
land, Iieland, Norway, Sweden, Russia, Prussia, Nether¬ 
lands, Germany, France, Switzerland, and in the United 
States, d'he ^whole number, at present in the world, is 
estimated at more than 20()(). 'The American Bible So¬ 
ciety alone has SOO ^Auxiliary Societies, and, since its 
formation in 1816, has issued 644,275 Bibles and Testa- 
n\pnts. Its ^ijicoine for 1827 was 75,000 dollars. The ^ 
British and Foreign Bible Society has nearly 700 ^Auxil¬ 
iaries. Its ^income for 1822, was 460,884 dollars, and 
it has circulated more tiian 5,000,000 copies of the Bible. 

The British Russian Bible Society has 200 Auxiliaries. 

It sent from St. Petersburs: 23 wasson loads of Bibles, in 
one day, to remote provinces. 


AMERICA. 

IN America nature has operated on her largest scale. 
In extent it exceeils each of the other cjuarters of the 
world. Its mountains are of astonishing grandeur ; its 
lakes and its rivers are unequalled on me globe. Most 
of the metals, minerals, plants, fruits, and trees, found on 
the other continent, are met with here, and many of then\ 
in greater quantities and in higher perfection. 

Notwithstanding its great extent and abundant fertility, 
America remained unknown to the inhabitants of the other 
hemisphere, until about the close of the fifteenth century, 
when it was ^discovered by Christopher Columbus, a na¬ 
tive of Genoa, who, conceiving the bold design of sailing 
to India by the west, procured thi ee ships from the court 
of Spain, and heroically ventured his life in prosecution of 
a discovery, in which the inhabitants of two worlds were 
interested. After a voyage of thirty-three days across tlic 
then unexplored Atlantic, on the evening of October 11, 
1492, he discovered land, which proved to be one of the 
Bahama islands. In his ^third voyage he discovered the 
continent of South America. 

At that period, ^America was one vast and almostxjntire 
wilderness, but sparingly inhabited by a people mostly 
rude and savage, collected together in tribes, thinly scat¬ 
tered over its immense territories. To this general char¬ 
acter, however, there were two very remarkable excep- 


100 


IPNITED STATES* 


tions ; the one in Mexico, and the other in Peru^ Here 
the Indians had made some progress in civilization and the 
arts 5 and although their manners were still extremely 
barbarous, they had founded ^two powerful empires, that 
of Mexico, under Montezuma, and that of Peru, governed 
a race of princes, called Incas, supposed by the Peru¬ 
vians to have been descendants from the sun. 

As the Spaniards were the first discoverers, so were 
they also tlie *^first European inhabitants who settled in 
America. Their cruelties to the natives in their first con¬ 
quest will never be forgotten. The fame and prospect of 
wealth acquired by Spain, in consequence of her discov¬ 
eries, ^excited the attention of the other European powers,, 
particularly the Portuguese, English, French, and the 
Dutch, who also made discoveries in ditferent parts, and 
planted colonies. Thus was the American continent, soon 
after its discovery, parcelled out to the difterent powers 
of Europe. 

UNITED STATES. 

Mountains. The two principal ranges of mountains 
are the Rocky mountains in the west, and the .Alleghany 
mountains in the east. The latter extend from New 
York to Georgia. Their course is nearly parallel with 
the sea shore at the distance of from 50 to 130 miles 
from it, dividing the rivers and streams of water which 
fall into the Atlantic on the east, from those which fall in¬ 
to the lakes and the Missisippi, on the west. 

Lakes. There is nothing in other parts of the globe 
that resembles the prodigious chain of lakes which are 
met with in America. 

Lake Superior is 1500 ^miles in circumference, and is 
the largest collection of fresh water yet known. It is 
clear, of great depth, and abounds with a variety of ex¬ 
cellent fish ; such as trout, pickerel, bass, &c. It is fre¬ 
quently covered with fog, particularly when the wind is 
east. Storms Effect this lake as much as they do the At¬ 
lantic ocean, the waves run as high, and the navigation is 
equally dangerous. 

Lake Huron is the ^next in magnitude. Its circumfe¬ 
rence is about 1000 miles. Its fish are the same as in 
lake Superior. 

Lake Michigan ^communicates with lake Huron by the 
strait of Michillim,akkinak, 6 miles ^wide. In this lakq 


UNITED STATES. 


IQl 


are several kinds of fish, particularly trout of an excel¬ 
lent quality, weighing from 20 to 60, and even 90 pounds. 
West of this lake are large meadows said to extend to 
the Missisippi. 

Lake Erie is^noted for having its islands and banks, at 
the west end, so infested with rattle-snakes as to render 
it dangerous to land on them. Near the banks of the isl¬ 
ands it is covered with the large pond lily, the leaves of 
which lie on the surface of the water so thick as to cover 
it entirely for many acres together; on these in the sum¬ 
mer seasons lie myriads of water snakes, basking in the 
sun. On this lake, the American Fleet, under Com. 
Perry, Sept. 10, 1813, gained over the British Fleet, of 
larger force, a splendid and important victory. 

Lake Ontario has in many places steep banks; its 
southern shore is covered principally with beech, and the 
land appears good. The Oswego bass, weighing from 3i 
to 4 pounds, are found in this lake. 

Lake Champlain is the largest ^collection of water in 
the New England States. It is about 200 miles in^length, 
and from one to eighteen in width. Its dej)th is sufficient 
for the largest vessels. On these waters. Sept. 11, 1814, 
Com. iMac’Donough gained a brilliant and decisive victo¬ 
ry over the British fleet of superior force. 

Lake George is a clear and most beautiful collection of 
water. It embosoms more than 200 small islands. The 
water of this lake is about 100 feet above the level of 
lake Champlain. The portage between the two is one 
mile and a half. 

Falls of Niagara. Between the lakes Ene and Ontario 
^are the famous falls of Niagara. Fhe river here is 
more than one quarter of a mile wide, and the ^perpen¬ 
dicular pitcli of the water about 170 feet, produeing a 
noise which may be heard 20 and even 40 miles in fa¬ 
vourable weather. 

Rivers. The Missisippi is the ^inost distinguished river, 
not only of the United States, but of all North America. 
It is more than ‘3000 miles in ^length, from 1 to 2 miles 
wide, and of uncommon depth. Its ^navigation is attend¬ 
ed with many difficulties and dangers, from the sudden 
crooks and bends-in the river, the falling in of its banks, 
and more especially from the sawyers, so called, which 
are trees, whose roots have by some means become fas¬ 
tened to the bottom of tlie river, in such a manner, that', 

1 2 


102 


UNITED STATE$^* 


from the continual pressure of the current, they receiver 
a regular vibratory motion, from the resemblance of which: 
to that of a saw mill, they have derived their name. 
iTheir motion is sometimes very quick, and if they strike 
a boat, it is immediately upset or dashed to pieces. Trees 
firmly bedded in the mud are called planters. Vessels 
are from 5 to 30 days on their passage up to New Orleans, 
S7 miles ; although with a favourable wind, they will 
sometimes descend in 12 hours. From New Orleans to 
Natches, 310 miles, the voyage requires from 60 to 80 
days. Ships rarely ascend atmve that place. It is ^navi¬ 
gable for boats, carrying about 40 tons, and rowed by 18 
or 20 men to the falls of St, Jinthony, From New-Orleans 
to the Illinois, the voyage is performed in about 8 or 10 
weeks. Many of these difficulties, however, now are 
happily overcome, and much time is gained by the suc¬ 
cessful introduction of steam boat navigation. This river 
overflows its banks in the spring, and lays the country 
for many miles in extent under water. 

The Missouri, usually accounted a tributary to the 
Missisippi, is however the principal stream. It is longer, 
broader, and deeper than the Missisippi before their con¬ 
fluence, and affords a more extensive navigation. This 
river is ^remarkable for the muddiness of its waters, 
which quality it imparts to the Missisippi. 

The Ohio is a most beautiful river, 1033 miles in ^length, 
and about one quarter of a mile in width, ^formed by the 
confluence of Alleghany and Monongahela rivers, both of 
which are navigable. Its current is gentle, its waters are 
very clear, and its navigation easy and uninterrupted, ex¬ 
cept at the rapids, near Louisville, where the river de¬ 
scends about 10 feet in the distance of one mile and a 
half. In spring tides vessels pass down these rapids in 
safety, but cannot ascend. 

The Connecticut is the ^great river of New England. 

It is ^navigable for sloops to Hartford, 50 miles, and by 
means of canals, for boats to the foot of Fifteen Mile 
Falls, 250 miles above Hartford. Its ^vvhole length is 
about 400 miles. 

The Hudson is a remarkable straight river. It fleets 
the tide at Jilbany, iGO^miles from the sea, and is thus far 
navigable for sloops. Its length is 250 miles. About 30 
miles from the ocean, at the mouth of this river, is the 
island Manhattan, on which stands the city New-York, 


UNITED states* 


lOJ 

'Ilie Delaware is a large navigable river. It admits 
ships of the line to Philadelphia^ about 120 miles from the 
sea, and small craft to Trenton falls, and boats of burden 
100 miles further. Delaware bay, into which this river 
flows, is GO^miles in lengthy and about 30 miles in breadth 
in its broadest parts. It is 20 miles ’wide between the 
capes, where it opens into the Atlantic ocean. 

The Susquehannah is a large river, formed by two main 
branches. Its ’navigation is difiicult for the first 20 miles, 
on account of rapids, after which it is boatable almost 
to its sources. Chesapeak bay, into which this river 
empties, is 200 miles ’in length, and from 7 to 18 miles 
wide. It aSbrds many commodious harbours, and is of 
safe and easy navigation. It is 12 miles ’wide between 
the capes. 

The Potowmack is a noble and majestic river, 7 miles 
’wide at its mouth, and is more than a mile wide at Alex¬ 
andria, 290 miles from the sea. It is ’navigable to George¬ 
town, a distance of about SOO miles. The locks and ca¬ 
nals on these rivers will be noticed in their places, as al¬ 
so the other large rivers in the United States. 

Face of the Country. East of the Alleghany range of 
mountains the country gradually descends to the Atlantic. 

The sea coast of the United States is, at least, 2,000 
miles in ’extent. It is various, unequal, and occasionally 
hilly towards the north ; but soutli from Long Island^ the 
whole coast for many miles back into the country, is a 
flat, sandy plain, but little elevated above the level of the 
ocean. West of the mountains, the country is in some 
parts mountainous, but is more generally level, particu¬ 
larly north of the Ohio, or is gently undulating, and a- 
bounds with natural meadows of great extent, which are 
entirely destitute of trees, but covered with grass. 

Climate. The climate of the United States is ’subject 
to the extremes of lieat and cold, and to frequent, sufJden, 
and great clianges in the weather, and in the temperature 
of the air. Not only the cold in winter, but the heat in 
summer, is greater than in the countries of Europe, situ¬ 
ated under tiie same parallels of latitude. 

In the Northern States, the mercury in Farenheit’s ther- 
motneter sometimes’sinks to 20° below 0, or Zero, in the 
winter. The earth is usually covered with snow 3 or 4 
months, and the use of sleds and sleys is almost universal. 

in the iViiddle States, throughout Pennsylvania, New’- 
Jersey, and Maryland, the winters are shorter than in the 


104 


tINITF.n STATF.S. 


Northern States, and the snows less abundant and more 
transient. They rarely last longer than 15 or 20 days. 
The weather is variable, and subject to continual changes 
of frost and rain. The cold, however, occasionally, is 
very severe, but of less duration. At Philadelphia, the 
mercury sometimes ^sinks to 6 or 8 degrees below zero. 
The Delaware, notwithstanding its tide of 6 feet, and its 
breadth of a mile, is sometimes frozen over in 24 hours, 
and remains thus fixed, almost every winter, 20 or SO 
davs, at one or two intervals. 

In the Southern States the duration and intenseness of 
the cold decrease in the same proportion as the latitude. 
The parallel of the Potowmack, or more exactly that of 
the Petapsco, forms a distinguishing line in this respect. 
The dominion of snow is bounded here ; and he who trav¬ 
els southward may notice the sley before almost every 
farmer’s door, till he descends the steeps at the foot of 
which rolls the Petapsco, after which he will see that ve¬ 
hicle no more. This quarter, however, is exposed to oc¬ 
casional severe frosts, and to snow, which has been known 
to fall 2 or S feet at Norfolk in one night. 'Phe mercury 
at Charleston sometimes descends to 20 degrees, and the 
earth is frozen to the depth of two or three inches. But 
these frosts and snows are of short continuance. 
Warmth predominates, even in winter, and the weather is 
mostly soft and mild. The country to the westward of 
the Alleghany mountains is more equable in temperature 
than the same parallels of latitude on the eastern side, 
and the mean annual heat is greater. 

Seasons. Autumn in the United States is the ^finest sea¬ 
son of the year. The temperature of the air is then most 
agreeable, and the weather, through September, October, 
and part of November, is generally settled and serene. 
In the spring, the weather is variable, and often exceed¬ 
ing! v unpleasant. Warm dajs, succeeded by cold nights, 
alternately tliawing and freezing the surface of the eai th; 
bleak wesleily winds, followed by w'arm, humid winds 
from tlie south, or damp chilly winds from the east, mark' 
this season of the year. An American spring ditl'ers 
widely from an European spring. 

fVinds. The ^most prevalent winds in the Atlantic 
States are the north-west, nortli-east, and south-west. 
Noi th-vvest winds are dry, and accompanied widia rapid 
evaporation ; consequently, in summer, are cool and re¬ 
freshing, and in winter, very cold. North winds are not 


UNITED STATES-. 


105 


very frequent, but are always cool, or cold. North-easit 
winds are common in all seasons except the summer 
months, and are accompanied with a chilling dampness, 
occasioning the most disagreeable sensations. A south¬ 
east wind, especially in the Northern and Middle States, 
seldom fails to produce rain in twelve hours, and often 
blows a tempest. A south wind is usually warm, and of¬ 
ten attended with rain. 

Storms. The ^most violent and long continued storms, 
in the Atlantic States, are from the north-east. It is a 
curious fact, that these storms ^usually begin at the 
south-west, somewhere about the gulf of Mexico, and-pro- 
ceed along the American coast, to the north-east, at the 
rate sometimes of about 100 miles in an hour. Dr. Frank¬ 
lin was the first who made this observation. The memo¬ 
rable snow-storm in February, 180:2, is a remarkable con¬ 
firmation of this fact. At Charleston, in South Carolina> 
the storm began of a Sunday, about 3 o’clock in the af- 
noon. All that day at Boston, was calm and pleasant, 
and continued so till 11 at night, when it grew cloudy. 
About 1 o’clock the next morning, the storm commenced. 
At Hallowell in Maitie, the same mor»iing, the sun rose 
clear. The air became cloudy in about a quarter of ail 
hour 5 the snow began about 11 o’clock, and in two hours 
the storm became furious. The shipwrecks during this 
storm were numerous and dreadful. 

Tornadoes. 'Fornadoes in the United States, attended 
with thunder, lightning, hail, and tempest, are not unfre¬ 
quent. Tliese whirlwinds move in narrow veins, about 
half a mile broad, and 8 or 10 miles in length. Within 
these limits they often twist oft' and lay level the largest 
trees, and their course through a forest is like that of a 
reaper through a field. 

QuantUy of water falling in rain. The ^quantity of wa¬ 
ter falling annually in snow and rain, in the United States, 
is from 4:2 to 48 inches ; that in Europe is about one third 
less; in England, particularly, it is estimated at 24 inches. 
Still the United Slates are the most subject to drought, 
owing to the remarkable dryness of our atmosphere. 
Evaporation likewise is more rapid in America than in 
Europe, and the air is much more highly charged with 
electric fluid ; thunder is louder, and lightning is more 
vivid, and accidents from lightning more frequent. But 
notwithstanding we have more rain in this country than in 
Europe, we have also, what could hardly be expected. 


lOG 


United States. 


at the same time, more fair weather. For although the 
quantity of rain here is greater, the ^number of rainy day's 
is less. The inference is, that rain in this country falls 
in more copious showers than in the countries of Europe. 

The sup^'rior dryness of our attnosphere, compared 
with that of England, has been ® illustrated by Dr. Frank¬ 
lin by a very curious experiment. He had a mahogapy 
box made with the greatest nicety, containing drawers 
which fitted exactly, and were very tight at London ; be¬ 
ing brought to Philadelphia they became too loose, but 
when sent back to London they became tight as before. 

J^arfhquakes. There are numerous proofs that earth¬ 
quakes have been violent in various parts of America. 
Nearly fifty have been noticed in tlie New England 
States, since the settlement of the first English Colony at 
Plymouth, in 1620. Of these, five have been particular- 
Vears. ly memorable, as being much heavier than the 
1638 rest. They have all ^commenced with an un- 
I 6 vi 8 dulatory motion, in a direction from north-west 
1663 to south-east, tlie ^central course of which, or 
1727 place of greatest violence, has been in a line 
1755 coinciding nearly with lake Ontario and the 
mouth of Merrimack river, extending southward to the 
Potowmack, and northward to the St. Lawrence. The 
whole country within these limits has been repeatedly 
shaken, most violently about the middle, and least to¬ 
wards the south-west and north-east boundaries. 

The winter of 1811 and 12 was ^distinguished by the 
number, frequency, and extent of the earthquakes in all 
the southern and western parts of the United States, from 
New York to the Floridas, and from the Atlantic to the 
Missisippi. Eighty-nine shocks were counted in the 
course of seven days. New Madrid was so extremely 
agitated as to be deserted by its inhabitants. 

Soil and Productions. The ^soil, though of various de¬ 
scriptions, is generally fertile. West of the Alleghany 
mountains it is excellent; the low country in the South¬ 
ern States is the deast fertile part. n 

New England is a fine grazing country 5 hence, beef, 
butter, and cheese, are great products of the Northern 
States. Indian corn is the most extensively cultivated of 
any kind of grain. The «grand staples of the Middle States 
are wheat and tobacco 5 sthose of the Southern States, 
are cotton and rice, those of the Western States are 
wheat and hemp 5 those of Louisiana, cotton and sugar. 


UNITED STATES. 


107 


jMinerals^ Fossils^ 4'C. Iron abounds in many parts of 
the United States. Great quantities of ^copper also have 
been hiutid in the country bordering; on Lake Superior. 

A lead mine has been wrought in Virginia, anil others, 
still mure valuable, oiqthe banks of the Missisippi. 

®Pit-coal lias been discovered in various parts. Vir¬ 
ginia particularly abounds in this valuable mineral ; and 
the country about Pittsburg, in Pentjsylvania, affords it of 
superior quality. It likewise frequently occurs on the 
Ohio and the Missisippi ; and has been found, of late, of 
a peculiar quality, in Rhode-lsland. 

Several mineral springs break forth in different parts 
of the United States. The ^most celebrated are those of 
Saratoga and Ballstown in the State of New York. The 
latter place is much frequented by gay and fashionable 
people as well as by invalids. 

There are also salt springs in New-York, Kentucky, 
and in other parts of the western country, fruin the wa¬ 
ters of which salt is obtained, by evaporation, in almost 
any desirable quantity. 

Mcmufact^-ires, The manufactures of the United States 
have been greatly extended witliin a few years. Their 
value, according to tlie report of the secretary of the 
treasury, in 1810, exceeds 120 millions of dollars annually. 

Boots, shoes, soap, candles, cut-nails, household furni¬ 
ture, carriages, ships, refined sugar, flax seed oil, coarse 
earthen ware, snuff, chocolate, hair-powder, pot and pearl 
ashes, are manufactured, not only sufficient for home con¬ 
sumption, but considerable quantities for exportation. 

The manufactures of hand cards, cards for carding ma¬ 
chines, and printers’ types, are adetpiate to tlie demand, 
and those of ropes, cables, cordage, and duck, are nearly so, 

Hats, paper, bar-iron, gun-powder, window-glass, salt, 
spirituous liquors, cotton, woollen, and linen cloths, are 
manufactured extensively in some of the States, but not 
in (juantities sufficient for the demand. At the close of 
1810, there were in operation 87 mills for manufacturing 
cotton, working 80,000 spindles, attended by 500 men, 
and 3,500 women and children. 

Commerce. Almost every country produces more than 
a supply of some articles, and not enough of other articles, 
for the support of its inhabitants : and this gives rise to 
commerce, which ^consists in the exchange of commodi¬ 
ties of one country for those of another country., 


i08 


UNITED STATES. 


Thus, in the United States, we have more cotton, wheat, 
tobacco, lumber, and rice than we need ; and therefore 
we send these articles to other countries in exchang-e for 
woollen cloths, coffee, sugar, and molasses, of which we 
are in want. 

Those articles or commodities which are carried out 
of any country are called ^exports ; and those articles 
which are brought into any country are called ^imports. 

When the exports of any country exceed the imports | 
that is, when the articles which any country has to spare 
are more than enough to purchase the articles of w'hich it 
is in want, then the 'balance of trade is said to be in fa¬ 
vour of such country. On the other hand, when the im¬ 
ports exceed the exports, or when the articles any coun¬ 
try has to spare are not enough to purchase those of 
which it is in want, then the balance of trade is said to 
be against such country. 

Such is the case in the United States where the imports, 
in 1822 ^amounted to 83 millions of dollars, while the ex¬ 
ports, the same year, 'amounted to 72 millions only, 
making a balance in trade against the United States, of 11 
millions of dollars. The balance varies in different years, 
to meet which, however, large sums of money are annual¬ 
ly drained out of the country. During the year 1822, the 
export of specie from the United States 'exceeded the im¬ 
ports by nearly 8 millions of dollars. Most of the Chi¬ 
nese and East India goods brought into this country are 
^purchased with money, our country producing little or 
nothing which those countries want in exchange for their 
own articles. 

The 'capital article of export of the United States is 
cotton, the quantity of which has been rapidly increasing 
for more than 30 years. In 1790, the quantity was only 
100,000 pounds. In 1800 it was 17 millions of pounds ; 
in 1804—35 millions; in 1817>—85 millions ; and in 1822 
"—144 millions of 'pounds were exported, 'amounting to 
more than 24 millions of dollars. 

The 'other most considerable* articles of export, the 


showing the principal articles cf export^ in 1822 , arranged 
according to their value. ^ 


Articles Exported. Value. 

Cotton, Dolls. 24,035,058 

Tobacco, 6,222,838 

Wheat, flour, and biscuit, 5,287,292 

Rice, 1,553,482 

Rollf, bacon, lard, and liye hogs, 1,357,899 


Articles Exported. _ Value. 

Lumber, (viz. boards, staves, shingles, 

hewn timber, masts, &c. 1,323,454 

Pot and pearl ashes, 1,099,056 

Dried and pickled fish, 1,015,838 

Indian corn and meal, 900,656 

IJeef, tallow, hides, and live cuttlej 844,5$4 



UXltED STATES^ 


109 


same year, were tobacco, flour, rice, pork, dumber, pot 
and pearl ashes, fish, Indian corn, and beef. 

I he ^^principal imports are nianufactured goods chiefly 
from Great Britain, and sugar, rum, wine, molasses, 
brandy, coffVe, and teas. 

Inhabitanth and Popidation. The U. States are settled 
by emigrants or their descendants from most of the nations 
ot Europe, By far the greater proportion of the inhabi¬ 
tants a»e English. New-Kngland particularly was’settled 
/ entirely by ernii^ratits from England, except a very few 
Scotch and Irish, as weie also Virginia, the Carolinas, and 
Georgia. New-York and New-Jersey were originally 
Dutch colonics 5 Pennsylvania had a large mixture of 
Swedes and Germans. In latter times, great numbers of 
people have emigrated from Scotland, Ireland, France, 
and Germanv, who have gone principally to the back 
parts of the Middle, Southern and Western States. 

The Negroes in this country vvere’brought originally 
from Africa. They have been wickedly torn from their 
native land, ainl sold here for slaves. This inhuman 
traffic has lately been abolished not only in this country, 
but also in England and in Denmark. The Indians, or 
Aborigines,as ttiey are called, were the’original inhabitant? 
of America, before it was discovered by the Europeans. 
The remains of several Indian nations or tribes are still 
to be found within the territory of the United States. 

Charader^ A desire of gain is tlie ’ruling passion of the 
people, of the United States. The avidity of becoming 
rich, however, does not render them avaricious. With¬ 
out being profuse, or forgetting the interests of their fami¬ 
lies they know how at proper times to be liberal, and are 
ever ready to assist the unfortunate. The numerous 
cliaritable institutions in our country, and the abundant 
subscriptions, in repeated instances, obtained for unfortu¬ 
nate sutferers by fire, and other calamities, in our large 
seaport towns, are examples of the generosity of the peo¬ 
ple of the United States, greatly honourable botli to the 
nation and to individuals. 

A spirit of enterprise, and a boldness in the execUtioH 
of their designs, are also ’remarkable characteristics ot 
the people of the United States, in almost every situation 
in life. Inured to toil from their infancy, having for the 
most part made their fortunes by tlieir own industry, 
fatigue and labour, with but few exceptions, are not yet 

K. 


110 


UNITED STATES. 


become repugnant even to those in the most eas}' circum¬ 
stances. While they wish to enjoy the ease and sweets 
of life, they do not regard them as absolute wants, and 
can ^iispense with them, whenever a reverse of fortune 
takes them away. 

The people of the United States are extremely jealous 
of their liberties. Thev are intelligent, eager to investi- 
gate, and disposed to instruction j and many examples ot 
men might be nientioned, who, without education, have 
invented and constructed works, particularly in mechan- 
icks, worthy the best workmen in Europe. 

The women in general possess in a high degree the 
domestic and other virtues. Good wives and good moth¬ 
ers, their husbands and their children engage their chief 
attention, and their household affairs occupy most of their 
time and care. 

Militia. The ^defence of the United States in time of 
peace is intrusted to a well disciplined militia, consist¬ 
ing of above 900,000. 

Navy. By the Navy Report, in 1822, there were 
afloat 7 ^ships of the line,'and 8 ’frigates, besides numer¬ 
ous smaller vessels. The navy yards of the United 
States are six, ’situated at Portsmouth, N. II. Charles¬ 
town, Mass. New-York city, Philadelphia, Washington 
city, and Goaport, in Virginia. 

Mint. In the year 1810, were coined to the value of 
476,555 dollars in gold •, 638,770 dollars in silvery and 
16,140 in copper. 

Post-Offices. The number of post-offices in 1823, w'as 
5,242 ; and the length of roads over which the mail was 
carried w'as 88,600 miles. 

Publick Debt. The publick debt in 1810 was 53 mil¬ 
lions of dollars. In consequence of the late war it was 
increased, in 1816, to 123 millions, since which time its 
reduction has been taking place, and in 1824 it was 
S90,177,000. 

Religion. The constitution of the United States leaves 
to every citizen the free choice of his own religion. The 
Baptists are the ’most numerous denomination. The 
other principal denominations are Congregationalists, 
Episcopalians, Friends, Methodists, German Lutherans, 
Dutch Reformed, Moravians, Roman Catholics, and Uni’- 
versalists. 


NEW-ENGLAND. 


Ill 


Government. The United States were formerly under 
the govern-nent of Great Britain, and were then denomi- 
Ilate<l American Colonies. At length, however, certain 
disputes relative to taxation arose between Great Britain 
and the Colonies, which in \775 brcjke out in an open 
war. In the year following, July 4, 1776, a Congress of 
the several Colonics convened at Philadelphia, made a 
publick declaration of their independence, which was con¬ 
ceded by Great Britain, after a war of eight years, at the 
peace in 1783. They then agreed upon a federal repub¬ 
lican government, under the title of the ‘‘ United States 
of America 5 ” which was finally ’^settled in 1783. 

^ By the Federal Constitution, the ’legislative power is 
vested in a Congress of the United States, consisting of a 
Senate and Mouse of Representatives.^ The Senate is 
’composed of two members from each state, chosen by 
their legislatures for 6 years. The representatives are 
’chosen by the people for two years. Every 40,000 are 
entitled to a representative. The executive power is 
vested in a President chosen for four years by electors 
from all the States. 


HEW-UNCILAND. 

Climate. New-England is generally rocky, hilly and 
mountainous, and enjoys a healthy climate. The ’ex¬ 
tremes of heat and cold, according to Farenheit’s ther¬ 
mometer, are from 20 ° below, to 100 above 0 . Frosts 
coniinonly cease about the last of May, and come on again, 
between the first and middle of September. Cattle re¬ 
quire to be housed in November. In the course of this 
month winter especially assumes its reign, and continues 
to about the end of March. The ground becomes frozen 
to the depth of from 2 to 3 feet, and the rivers and ponds 
of water, to the depth of from 1 to 2 feet, and the whole 
country is usually covered with snow. January often 
])roduces a thaw, which is succeeded by severe frost. 
The deepest snows and the coldest weather are general¬ 
ly in February. The open country is commonly cleared 
of snow in April. About the beginningor middle of May 
the ’grass is generally sufficient for cattle to live abroad. 

Soil. The ’soil is various from the most barren sand 
to the richest clays and loams. The interval lands on the 



MAINE. 


large rivers are accounted the ^est, particularly for 
grain. The ^highlands are esteemed for grass. Drained 
swamps have a deep, mellow soil, and the vallies between 
hills are generally very fertile. 

Productions. The most ^important production of 
Kew-England is grass. Beef, mutton, pork, butter, and 
cheese are very abundant. Wheat is cultivated in cer- 
-tain parts, but generally does not succeed towards the 
sea-shore. Indian corn is the ^most cultivated r)f any 
kind of grain. Otxhards are genera!, and cider is the 
^common drink of the inhabitants. 

Inhabitants. New-England is the ’most populous part 
of the United States. The inhabitants are almost wholly 
of English extract. The ’first permanent settlement in 
the New England States was begun at Plymouth in Mas¬ 
sachusetts, November, 16^20, by 101 English emigrants, 
of whom 46 died before the opening of the next 
spring. 

Occupations. The inhabitants are much engaged 
in commercial pursuits, and great numbers find employ¬ 
ment in the fisheries. The landholders are generally 
cultivators of the soil which they possess. Slavery, that 
bane of morals, and reproach of free governments, is 
hardly known in New-England. 

Circumstances and Education. The distribution of wealth 
is more ecjual here than in any other civilized couniry. 
The institutions of religion are well supported, and pub¬ 
lic schools, except in Rhode Island, are maintained by law, 
in every town. There is not another country on the globe 
perhaps, where education is so generally diftused among 
all classes and orders of citizens as in the New-England 
States. 

MAINE. 

Fact of the Country, Soil and Productions. —Maine is 
generally hilly, but not mountainous. West of Andros¬ 
coggin river the ’soil is light and lean, being mostly pine 
plain. ’On the Kennebeck, and between that river and 
the Penobscot it is excellent, being well adapted either 
for tillage or pasturage. ’East of the Penobscot it is less 
productive. ’Along the coast it is mostly barren. Lum¬ 
ber is the ’chief source of wealth to the inhabitants. Ap¬ 
ples flourish in the interior, but not on the coast. Peach 
trees will not bear the clinaate. Corn grows to a good 


MAINE. 


113 


size ; wheat, rje, barley, oat^, peas, and flax are also ex¬ 
tensively cultivated. Limestone, and mountain and bog 
iron, abound in many places ; also a species of stone in 
Lebanon which yields copperas and sulphur. There are 
large tracts of land here, yet a wilderness, belonging to 
the State, which, collectively, are called the Eastern 
Lands. 

Towns. — Portland^ the capital, situated on a peninsula 
in Casco bay, is the ’most commercial town. The harbour 
is deep, safe, capacious, and seldom frozen over. Forty- 
two vessels were built here in 1810. The number of in¬ 
habitants in 1820, was 8,521. Bath\s ^t. flourishing com¬ 
mercial town, at the ’head of winter navigation on Kenne- 
beck river, 16 miles from the sea. 

N. B. The question intended above is, What toxcn is that situa¬ 
ted at the head of winter navigation on Kennebeck river ? 

Hallowell and Augusta ?i\'Q on the same river, the latter 
at the ’head of tide waters. TViscasset is a flourishing, 
commercial town on Sheepscot river, ten ’miles from the 
sea. The river is here navigable for the largest ships. 
Thomastown^ on St. George’s river, which is navigable for 
vessels of 150 or 200 tons, 15 miles or more, is the’place 
from which is sent to market the greatest part of the lime 
manufactured in Maine. Upwards of 70,000 casks were 
in one year exported to difterent parts of the United States 
valued at from Sl,50 to S200. 'I'here are also a num¬ 
ber of flourishing towns on the Penobscot. 

Trade. The principal article of export is lumber. 
Vast quantities of boards, shingles, masts, spars, and the 
like, are transported to the neighbouring States,* to the 
^V’^est Indies, and to Europe. Much of the firewood con¬ 
sumed in Boston is brought from Maine. Lime, dried 
fish, and pickled salmon, are also considerable articles of 
commerce. 

Gjvernment. The legislative power is vested in two 
branches, a House of Representatives, and a Senate, styl¬ 
ed The Legislature of Maine, who, with the governor, 
and seven Counsellors are chosen annually. 

Indians. On an island in Penobscot river, there are 
still the remains of the Penobscot tribe of Indians. They 
• consist of about 100 families, are Roman Catholicks, and 
have a church and a priest. 

K 2 


114 


X E W- H AM PS HTETr- 


yJipMgion. Congregationalists, Baptists and Methodists^ 
are the prevailing denominations. Many of d.ie towns 
and plantations are destitute of any settled minister. 

Literature. In Brunswick is’Bowdoin Coilego, so call¬ 
ed after the late Hon. James Bov\doin, whose benefac¬ 
tions amounted to SI0.000. The legislature lias endow¬ 
ed it with 5 townships of land. Toe buildings are wo 
colleges and a chapel. The situation is pleasant, and the 
institution Nourishing. Its Library contains 5,0r,0 vol¬ 
umes. In Waterville the Bajitists have established JVa~ 
terviUe College. At Bangor is a Literary and 'rheological 
Institution. Academies at Portland, Hallowell, Bej wi. k, 
Fryeburg, Bath, Hampden, Farmington, and Machias. 
Schools are maintained in most ol the towns, and iu 
many of the plantations. 

NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

Face of the Country. New-Hampshire has but about 
18’miles of sea coast; the only harbour is that at the 
entrance of Piscatagua river. 'I'he shore is mostly a 
sandy beach Twenty or thirty miles back from the sea 
the country becomes hilly or mountainous. 

Soil and Productions. 'Phe ’soil is various, but gener¬ 
ally fertile. 'Fhe intervals on the margin of rivers are 
the richest and the best adapted lor wheat and other 
kind of grain ; the uplands for pasture. Winter rye 
thrives best on the new lands ; Indian corn, oats, barley, 
ar.d flax on the old. Apples are produced abundantly ; 
No good husbandman thinks his farm complete without 
an orchard. Odier fruits are not much cultivated. 
Peaches particularly do not thrive well ; the apricot is 
scarcely known. 

ToLons. Portsmouth is the ’largest town in New-Hamp¬ 
shire, ’situated on the south bank of Piscataqua river,, 
about two miles from its mouth, 63 ’miles from Boston,, 
and 540 from the city Washington. It is the only sea¬ 
port in the State, its ’harbour is accounted one of the 
best on the continent, having a sufficient depth of water, 
never frozen, and being so fortified by nature as to be 
easily rendered Impregnable. A fire in 1802 destroyed 
a considera »le pai’t of the town, which has since been re- 
budt; and in December, 1813, another tremendous fire 
took place which destroyed nearly 200 buildings. Tlie 
number of inhabitants^ in 1820, was 7,327.. ' 


NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 


115 


Exeter^ at the ’head of navigation on Swamscot river, 
a branch of the Piscataqua, 15 miles from Portsmouth, 
and about the same distance from Newburyport, is well 
situated for a manufacturing town, and contains a duck 
manufactoiy, a number of saw-mills and grist-mills, a |>a- 
per-mill, slitting-mill, a snuff-mill, and iron works. It is 
particularly ’celebrated for sliip building. The number 
of inhabitants in 18-20, was 2,114. 

Concord, on Merrimack river, 55 miles from Portsmouth, 
is a pleasant flourishing town, and has a boat communica¬ 
tion with Boston, by means of the Merrimack and Mid¬ 
dlesex canal. ^ Much of the trade of the upper country 
centres here. It is the present ’seat of government, and 
contained in 1820, 2,838 inhabitants. 

Manufactories, Pot and pearl ashes, maple sugar, pot¬ 
tery, and some iron, are manufactured in this State. 
Franconia, in particular, is ’distinguislieil for its various 
works in iron. Acts of incorporation have been obtained 
for establishing woollen and cotton factories at Concord, 
and at Jaftrey, Considerable quantities of woollen and 
linen cloths are manufactured in families. 

Trade. The ’chief articles of export are ships, lumber, 
fish, whale-oil, beef, pork, sheep, flaxseed, pot and pearl 
ashes. A part of the trade of the western towns is, by 
the Connecticut river, to Hartford and New York. In 
the south-west parts of the State, the inhabitants trade 
priticipally with Boston and Salem ; in the middle and 
northern parts as far as Haverhill, with Portsmouth j 
further north, with Portland. 

Literature. Dartmouth college in Hanover is beauti¬ 
fully ’situated on a plain, about half a mde east of Con¬ 
necticut river. 'Phe buildings are a college 150 feet in 
length, a chapel, a hall, and a medical house. The li¬ 
brary contains about 4000 volumes. The cliemical and 
medical apparatus are very complete. Academies are 
established at Exeter, Ncw-Ipsvvich, Atkinson, Charles¬ 
town, Concord, and E;\st-Hampton. Every town is oblig¬ 
ed by law t(» have at least one common scho<d. 

Government. 'Phe Legislature is called the General 
Court, and consists of a Senate and House of Represen- 
tati\es, who, w.tli the Governor, are ail chosen annually 
by the people. 

Luriosifies. In Chester is a Cave, called the Devil’s 
der«, in whi:h is a room 15 or 20 feet s(piare, and 4 feet 
high. In Atkinsou meadow, which is overflowed by an 


ne 


VERMONT. 


artificial dam, there is an island of 6 or 7 acres, which 
rises and falls with the water. Bellows’ Falls are also 
noticeable, as a bold and beautiful cataract; over which 
is thrown a handsome geometric bridge. 

VERMONT. 

Fact of the Country. Vermont is generally mountain¬ 
ous. The Green mountains are a continued range or 
collection of mountains, extending in a direction nearly 
from north to south, through the whole length of the 
State. The’two highest summits are Camel’s rump and 
Mansfield mountain, estimated at about 4000 feet each, 
above the level of the ocean. These mountains are from 
ten to fifteen ’miles in width, intersected with vallies, 
and are crossed in several places by roads They abound 
wdth springs and streams of water, and are every where 
covered with wood. 

Soil and Productions. The ’soil is very fertile, and 
fitted for all the purposes of agriculture. It is generally 
deep, of a dark colour, rich, moist, warm, loamy, and sel¬ 
dom parched with drought. ’Wheat is extensively culti¬ 
vated on the west side of the mountains, but does not 
thrive so well on the east side. Barley, oats, peas, and 
flax flourish in all parts of the State •, of the latter from 
four to five hundred pounds are sometimes produced from 
a single acre. The pastures of Vermont are excellent, 
and the beef and mutton very fine. 

^Minerals. Iron ore in large quantities and of a good 
quality is fouiid in a number of the towns west ot the 
mountains. A rich lead mine has been discovered in 
Sunderland, and a fine vein of pipe clay in Shrewsbury. 
A! Bennington a quarry of marble has been opened of 
peculiar fineness and beauty. 

Manufactures. The ’most useful and extensive manu¬ 
facture at present in Vermont, is that ot pot and pearl 
ashes. That of iron from native ore, is also considerable, 
and may be expected to be annually increasing. There 
are already twenty-two furnaces and three forges in the 
State. There are several distilleries of spirits from grain, 
and a porter brewery at Middlebury on an extensive scale. 
Large quantities ot maple sugar are manufactured annu¬ 
ally for home consumption, and some for exportation. 

Trade. The ’exports of Vermont are pot and pearl 
ashes, wheat and other grain, bar-iron, nails, beef, pork, 


VERMONT. 


iir 


butter, cheese, live cattle, horses, lumber, peltry, flax and 
maple sugar. East of the mountains the ’trade is carried 
on partly with Hartford and New-York by Connecticut 
river, and partly with Boston and other eastern ports, by 
laud carriage. AVest of the mountains the ’trade is with 
Troy, Albany, or other towns on the Hudson, and by 
that river with New-York ; or to the north with Canada 
by means of lake Cliamplain. 

Towns. There are no large towns in Vermont, but 
many handsome villages. Bennington is the’oldest town 
in the State, and is ’celebrated in the revolution on .ac¬ 
count of a battle fought in its vicinity, called ‘‘ Benning¬ 
ton fight.” T!ie other most considerable towns are Wind- 
sor on Connecticut river, a place of consider.able trade ; 
Rutland on Otter Creek river, 55 miles from its mouth in 
lake Champlain ; 'Mkldlebury on the saine river, SO miles 
from the lake, in which is a college, a court house, a 
jail, a brewery, a gun and card factory, a forge, print¬ 
ing offlce, and a number of saw mills ; Vergennes likevvise 
on the same liver, 5 miles from its mouth 5 Burlingtonon 
lake Champlain, from whence there is a noble view of 
the lake, and in which there is a college. Montpelier on 
Onion river, 43 miles from the lake, is the seat of gov¬ 
ernment. 

Inhabitants. The inhabitants of Vermont are mostly 
emigrants from the other New-England States, or their 
descendants. Agriculture is their ’chief employment. 
They are active, hardy,hospitable, frugal, and industrious, 
and particularly attentive to the education of theirchildren. 

Religion. In every town there is a reserve of two lots 
of land for the support of the clergy j one for a perpetu¬ 
al parsonage, another for tlie first settled minister. 'Fhe 
inhabitants are mostly of the Baptist and Congregational 
persuasions. 

JAterature. There are’two colleges in this State ; one 
at Burlington, patronized by the State, and another at 
jVIiddlenury, supported chiefly by private bounty. Acad¬ 
emies are established at Norwich, Castleton, St. Albans, 
Rutland, Windsor, Caledonia, Addison, and Franklin, 
and common schools in every town. 

Government* The supreme legislative power is vested 
in a House of Representatives, who, witli the governor, 
are chosen annually on the first Tuesday in September,, 
by the people. 


118 


MASSACHUSETTS. 


MASSACHUSETTS. 

^Face of the Countrif. Massachusetts presents a great 
variety of surface. Along the sea-shore it is mostly lev¬ 
el advancing into the country, it becomes hilly and un¬ 
even ; and in the upper end of the State, rough and 
mountainous. 

Mountains, There are no lofty mountains in Massa¬ 
chusetts. A continuation of the Green Mountains passes 
through the north-west corner of this State. Saddle 
Mountain is the ^most elevated summit in this range, be¬ 
ing 4,500 feet above the level of the sea. I'lie hills in 
Worcester and Hampshire counties are a continuation of 
the mountains between the Connecticut and the Merri¬ 
mack. Wacliusett, in Princeton, is a conspicuous moun¬ 
tain, 1657 feet above (he level of the town, and 2,989 
feet above that of the sea. 

Rivers, The Connecticut crosses this State in Hamp¬ 
shire county, and ’receives in its course Deerfield^ IVest- 
field, Chicapee,, and.il/i//er’s rivers. The Merrimack runs 
through the north-east corner of the State, and ’receives 
Concord and Nashau rivers. Taunton river is ’navigable 
about 20 miles to Taunton, and empties into Narraganset 
bay. Charles is ’navigable 7 miles to Watertown, and 
empties into Boston harbour. Neponset is ’navigable 4 
miles to Milton, and empties into Boston Bay. 

Soil, J'he south-east part of the State, distinguished 
by the name of the Old or Plymouth Colony, including 
the counties of Barnstable, Duke’s, Nantucket, Bristol, 
and Plymouth, is the ’least fertile part,' being mostly a 
sandy plain, interspersed however with many excellent 
tracts of land. The northern, middle, and southern parts 
have, in general, a strong, good soil, well adapted to til, 
lage and pasture. 

Productions, Indian corn is universally cultivated 5 
rye, generally; wheat, but partially : It does not succeed 
towards the sea shore. But a partial supply of flax is 
produced in this State. Hops are raised in some parts 
for exportation. Beef, pork, butter, and cheese are also 
great products. That celebrated breed of sheep called 
Merino^ has been imported from vSpain and Portugal, and 
has multiplied in various parts of the State, 


MASSACHUSETTS. 


119 


^.Agriculture. The ’agriculture of Massachusetts sur¬ 
passes that of any of the States, except Connecticut and 
Pennsylvania. 

N. B. The question above may be, What is said of the agricul¬ 
ture of Massachusetts ? and in other instances, where the construc¬ 
tion of the sentence suggests no particular form in which to put the 
question. 

The parts adjacent to Boston have a great resemblance 
to Old England ; being in a state of high cultivation, and 
adorned with elegant houses. The crops on the interval 
lands on Connecticut river are the largest in the State. 
These lands yield, when w'ell cultivated, from 60 to 80 
bushels of Indian corn, from 25 to 35 of wheat, and from 
2 to 4 tons of hay to the acre. 

Fisheries. The ’greatest part of the fisheries of the 
United States is carried on by the citizens of Massachu¬ 
setts. The people of Nantucket, New-Bedford, and 
Cape Cod, carry on the ’whale fishery. These fish, 
however, at present, are rare about the Cape, although 
formerly caught there in great numbers. 

Toums. Boston^ the capital of Massachusetts, and of 
New-England, is the second commercial city in the U- 
nited States, and contains many enterprising, npulenr,and 
learned men ; and is noted for its literary and benevolent 
institutions, and military spirit. Itis pleasantly ’situated on 
a peninsula, at the head of Massachusetts bay, and is joined 
to the main land, at the south end, by a harrow isthmus, 
called the Neck. The’harbour is spacious enough for 500 
ships to ride at anchor in a good depth of water, while the 
entrance is so narrow as scarcely to admit two ships abreast. 

'riu* publick buildings are the State-house, Faneuil liall, 
4 Market-houses, 2Court-houses,2Theatres,Jail, IJospital, 
Alms-house, Museum, Atheneum, and 34 houses of pub- 
lick worship. The State-house is very magnificent, 173 
’feet in length. The dome is 50 feet in diameter, termi¬ 
nated by a circular lantern, at an elevation of 105 feet 
from the foundation. The prospect from the top is the 
richest imaginable. The new Court-house is very ele¬ 
gant, built of the Chelmsford granite stone. Two type 
and stereotype foundries are here in successful operation. 

On the west side of the city is the Common, bounded 
on the north and cast side by the Mall, the most elegant 
and extensive publick walk in the United States, orna¬ 
mented with rows of trees, and commanding a delightful 
and enchanting prospect of the country. 


i20 


MASSACHUSETTS. 


Six bridges, the great Western Avenue, and the 
Neck, connect the town and country. In the harbour are 
a great number of islands, on one of which, Ca-ile Island, 
three miles from the city, stands ’Fort Independence, be¬ 
longing to the United States, where strong fortifications 
have been erected, for the defence of the city, by direc¬ 
tion of the general government. On Governor’s Island is 
’Fort Warren, flanked and supported by two crescent bat¬ 
teries, of heavy guns on a level with the channel. ’Fort 
Strong is on Noddle’s Island, one mile from Boston, and 
was erected by the voluntary labours of the citizens of 
Boston and the adjacent towns, in the summer of 1814. 
Boston is situated 482 ’miles from the city Washington, 
347 from Philadelphia, and 252 from the city New-York. 
Its population is 60,000. 

The ’next most considerable town is Salem, IS miles 
from Boston by an excellent turnpike road. It is situated 
on a peninsula formed by two inlets of the sea, and con¬ 
tains 11,346 inhabitants. It is reputed the wealthiest town 
of its size in the United States. Beverly is a commercial 
town, largely concerned in the fisheries. It is situated 
to the north of Salem. A handsome tolbbridge connects 
the two towns. Marblehead is 4 miles south-east from Sa¬ 
lem. The inhabitants are 5,630, occupied almost wholly 
in the bank fisliery. Newburyport, on Merrimack river, 
two and a half miles from its mouth, is the ’third commer¬ 
cial town in the State. This town suffered very severely 
by fire in 1811 ; more than 100 houses, besides many 
shops and stores were reduced to ashes in one night. 
New-Bedford is a flourishing commercial town, 58 ii^iles 
southward of Boston. Plymouth is the ’oldest town in the 
State. It was here our pious ancestors first landed on 
coming to America. T'he rock on which they disem¬ 
barked has been drawn up, and is now exhibited in the 
town. 

Charlestown lies north of Boston with which it is con¬ 
nected by Charles river bridge. Bunker, Breed’s, and Cob¬ 
ble (now Pleasant) hills, celebrated in the history of the 
American Revolution, are in this town. One of the prin¬ 
cipal navy yards in the United States, the Massachu¬ 
setts Insane Hospital, and the State Prison, 200 feet in 
length, ’built of stone, 5 stories high, are also in this town. 
The foundation of the prison is of rocks weighing two 
tons each. On this is laid a tier of hewn stone, 9 feet 


MASSACHUSETTS. 


121 


long, and 20 inches thick, forming the first floor. The 
outer walls are 4 and the partition walls 2 feet thick of 
hard granite, eacli stone being from 6 to 14 feet in length. 
The number of prisoners is generally over 200. In this 
town also are a noble Town Hall, capacious Almshouse, 
Bunker-hill Bank, and 5 hoinies ot publick worsiiip. 

Chelsea, in which is the Marine Hospital, is pleasantly 
situated near Boston. Concord, fVorceater, Spnngjieldy 
and Nortkamplon are pleasant inland towns. 

Canals. Middlesex canal ^connects the Merrimack with 
Boston harbour. It is about SO ’miles in length, and is 
fed with water from Concord river. Essex canal conducts 
round Patucket falls in the Merrimack Locks and canals 
have also been constructed on the Connecticut, round Mil¬ 
ler’s fails in Montague,and round the tails in South Hailley. 

Manufactures. Massachusetts holds a conspicuous 
place among the other States in point of manufactures. 
The most ’considerable, arranged according to their esti¬ 
mate value, are those of cotton cloth-, bools and shoes, 
ardent spirits, leatlier, cordage, wrought and cast iron, 
nails. Woollens, ships, hats, cabinet work, pajier, oil, and 
muskets. 'I’he eslatdishmenis at Lowell, and W'altham, 
are the first among the woollen and cotton manufacto¬ 
ries in the Union. Lynn is the principal seat ot the siioe 
manufactory j West Ca nbridge, Leice^tei. aiul Bos¬ 
ton of the card manufactories. Wire is manutactured at 
Dedham j cut-nails at Malden and \anou.'> other places; 
eartlien ware at Danvers and Lynn ; stone w are a. d mo¬ 
rocco at Charlestown ; window^ Boiion and at 

Chelmsford, superior to any imported ; >ilk and thread 
lace at Ipswich. There is a ’national armoury at spring- 
field ; and the tannery at Northampton is said to be the 
largest in the United States. 

^Commerce. *Massachuse<ts is the m(»st commercial 
State in the LTnion. Her ships visit the remotest shores 
of the habitable globe. d’lie ’cliief exports are fish, 
beef, lumber, pork, ardent sjiirits, llax-seco, wlia.e oil, 
spermaceti, and various manutacturcs. 

Religion. Almost every town has its settled minister. 
The Congregationalists are the most numerou!. tlenomina- 
tion ; the next in^number are the Baptists. 

Literature, 'flie University in Cambridge, is the highest 
literary institution in the U. States. TheJib ary is the 
largest in America, and ’contains above 25.000 volumes. 
The buildings are 5 colleges, 2 halls containing publick 


MASSACHUSETTS* 


12 ^ 

rooms, and a chapel. Williams College, at Williamstowny 
and Jimiierst College, near Northampton, are respectable 
and liounshing Instituuons. The Theological Seminary 
Andover, founded in 1808, is ^0 nides north of Bostt)n. It 
has four professors, and is richij endowed, having receiv¬ 
ed bj donations, more than 300,000 dollars. Ihe Ntwton 
Theological Institution, 7 miles west of Boston, instituted 
in 1826, is under promising circumstances of success. Lit¬ 
erary, religious, and benevolent societies are numerous. 
Academies are established at Andover, Newbury, Leices¬ 
ter, 'raunloM, liiiigham, Plymouth, Sandwicn, Dedliam, 
Lynn, Westford, Groton, Deerfield, Framingham and Lex¬ 
ington. In every town provision is made for publick schools. 

Government, The legislature is styied ihe General 
Court, and consists of a Senate and H use of Repi esent- 
atives, woo, with the governor, are chosen an-iual^y oy 
the people. A council of nine meiobers to advise with 
the governor, is chosen by the legislature. 

Curiosities, At Dighton, on Taunton river, is a rock 
about 10 feet in length and 4 feet wide, which contains a 
very remarkable hieroglj^phical inscription, of which no 
satisfactory expl.ination has yet been given. 

in Wrentham is a curious cavern, called Wampoon’s 
Rock, from an Indian family of that name. 

Lynn beach may justly be reckoned a curiosity. It is 
one mile in length, and ^connects the peninsula, called 
Nahant, with the main land. This is a place of resort 
for parties of pleasure from Boston, Charlestown, Salem, 

> and Marblehead, in the summer season. 

Islands, Nantucket island, which constitutes Nantuck¬ 
et county, containing only one town, Sherburne, is *15 
miles long, and 11 broad. Most of the land is held in 
common j 500 cows feed in one herd, and 14,000 sheep 
in one pasture. The *soil is mostly light and sandy. 
The number of inhabitants is about 7,000. 

Martha?» Vineyard is about 21 *miles in length, and 6 
in breadth, and of a good soil. Here is a safe harbour, 
and very useful in winter, when ships bound to Boston 
cannot venture round the shoals of Nantucket and Cape 
Cod. Most of the *men on these islands are employed 
in the whale fishery. Elizabeth Islands are about 16 in 
number, of a good *soil, and extend in a row about 18 
miles in length, on the S. E. side of Buzzard’s Bay, Thq 
Vineyard and the adjacent islands, constitute Duke’s 
comity. Edgartown is the principal towm 


RHODE-ISLAND. 


12S 


RHODE-ISLAND. 

Climate^ The ’climate of Rhorle-Tsland is more tem¬ 
perate than that of any other of the New-England States, 
particularly on the Islands, where the breezes from the 
sea have tlie effect not only to mitigate the heat in sum¬ 
mer, but to moderate the cold in winter. Many people 
from the Southern States resort to Rhode-lsland to spend 
the summer montlis on account of the salubrity of the air. 

^Face of the Country. This State is mostly level, ex¬ 
cept the north-western part, which is hilly and rocky. 
Mount Hope is an inconsiderable eminence, noted for 
being the residence of king Philip, a famous Indian 
chief, and the place where he was killed. 

Soil and Productions. This State is better ’adapted for 
pasture than for tillage. A large proportion of the land 
IS lean and barren, except the Islands, all of which are 
unusually fertile, and particularly ’celebrated for their 
fine cattle, the abundance of th^ir sheep, and the excel¬ 
lence of their butter and cheese. Some of the towns on 
Narraganset bay are also of a good rich soil. The north¬ 
western are the ’least fertile parts, and the most thinly 
inhabited. Corn, rye, barley, oats, and in some places 
wheat, are produced, sufficient for home consumption. 
Some of the finest cattle in New-England are found in 
this State, weighing from 16 to 18 hundred weight. 
There are also some large dairies, and butter and cheese 
of the best quality are made in large quantities for expor¬ 
tation. Cider is,a considerable product; much attention 
is paid to the making of it, whence it is had of an excel¬ 
lent quality, and is preferred in the southern States to 
most of the cider made in other parts of New-England. 

’^Minerals. Iron ore is found in great plenty in this 
State, and some copper. There is abundance of lime¬ 
stone in Providence county, and a valuable coal mine has 
lately been discovered on the north end of Rhode-lsland. 

^dilanufachtres. Cotton cloths of a good quality are man¬ 
ufactured extensively in this State. More than 200 ’tons 
of cotton yarn are spun in the several factories annually. 
One of these factories at Providence carries 10,000 spin¬ 
dles. There are two woollen factories in the State, and 
a number of paper-mills. Hats are manufactured exten¬ 
sively ; linen and tow cloths in considerable quantities ; 
ruin, cards, chocolate, and some iron. 


124 


CONNECTICUT. 


Commerce. The ^chief exports are flax-seed, luinber,^ 
horses, cattle, beef, pork, fish, butter, cheese, grainy • 
spirits, cotton and linen goods. 

Towns. Providence., at t'ae head of Narraganset bay, 
about SO nuiles from the sea, is the ^capital, and is the 
third town in New-England in point of population. It has 
an extensive commerce, and contained in 1820, 11,767 in¬ 
habitants. There are several large cotton factories in 
this town, a number of distilleries and sugar houses, and 
tw'o spermaceti works. Amons the publick buildings are 
a collegr', court-house, ainl 13 houses of publick worship, 
some of which are remarkably elegant. 

JVe/rport., on the south-west part of the island of Rhode- 
Island, is much ^celebrated for the beauty of its situation, 
the salubrity of its climate, and is no less remarkable for 
the gi'eat variety and excellent quality of fre«h fish wliich 
the market furnishes at all seasons of the year. Its pop¬ 
ulation in 1820 was 7,319. I'lie publick buildings are a 
State-house, and 10 houses of publick worship, one of which 
is a Jewish synagogue. Bristol is a thriving town, on the 
east side of the bay, containing 3,197 inhabitants, and 
carries on a considerable commerce. 

Religion. The Baptists are the ’most numerous de¬ 
nomination. The clergy are supported wholly by the 
voluntary contributions of the people, no contract for a 
salary in this State being valid in law. 

Literature. There is a college rn Providence, founded 
by the Baptists, called “ Brown University,” in honour of 
its principal benefactor. Academies have been estab¬ 
lished at Providence, Newport, Bristol, Warren, East- 
Greenwich, and South Kingston. Common schools are 
too much neglected, there being no provision by law for 
their support. 

Government. The legislature consists of a council of 
12, including the governor, and deputy governor, all 
chosen annually, and a house of representadves chosen 
twice a year. Judges and other civil officers are ap¬ 
pointed for no longer time than one year. 

CONNECriCUT. 

^Face of the Country. This State is generally hillvo 
There are but lew level tracts of country,, nor any very 
considerable inountainsL 


CONNECTICUT. 


425 


Soil and Productions. Connecticut has a strong fertile 
soil, with but very little thin or barren land. It is gener¬ 
ally in a state of high cultivation, resembling in many 
parts a well cultivated garden. Indian corn is the most 
abundant crop, next to tins, rye. Wheat grows remarka¬ 
bly well, but its cultivation has been in some degree 
checked by the ravages of the Hessian fly. Mulberry 
trees have been planted in some parts of the State, and 
silk worms reared with considerable success. This 
State is exceedingly well w^atered, and is a fine grazing 
country, which enables the farmers to feed large num¬ 
bers or cattle and sheep. 

3Iineral8. Iron abounds in many parts of the State. 
At Chatham, on Connecticut river, is a vast quarry of 
stone, used in building, called “Connecticut stone.” It 
is transported down the river and round to Boston, where 
it is used extensively for foundations of buildings, door¬ 
steps, fire-places, and various other purposes. At Staf¬ 
ford is a ’mineral spring, the most celebrated in the Nevv- 
England States. 

Manufactures. Great quantities of woollen and linen 
cloths are manufactured in families. A woollen factory 
has been established at Hartford, and another at Derby, 
by the late Col. Humphreys, on an extensive scale. Lin¬ 
en, cotton, and button factories, are established at New- 
Ilaven. A machine for bending and cutting card teeth, 
makes 36,000 teeth in an hour. A cotton factory at Pom- 
fret employs 100 people : It carries 20,000 spindles, and 
spins weekly about 15,000 pounds of yarn. Glass, snutf, 
iron, and powder are made at East Hartford j cannon, at 
Salisbury, a town which contains inexhaustible mines of 
iron ore •, hollow ware at Salisbury and Stafford, sufficient 
to supply the State 5 gilt buttons at Waterbury ; paper, 
nails, hats, boots, and shoes in variou's places. Tin ware 
is extensively manufactured and sent into all parts of the 
United States, and even to Canada. 

Commerce. The ’foreign trade of this State is princi¬ 
pally with the West-India islands 5 but its coasting trade 
IS the most considerable. Its exports consist of beef, 
pork, cattle, horses, mules, butter, cheese, maize, rye, 
flax-seed, fish, candles, and soap. Almost all the produce 
of the western part of the State, is’carried to New-York. 

Towns. New-Haven is a neatly built city, containing 
about one square mile, and is a place of considerable 

L 2 


126 


CONNECTl'CtSr'iV 


commerce. It is laid out in squares ; the streets are 
•wide, and many of them adorned with rows of trees. 
The central square is an open 2 :reen, and is a very beau¬ 
tiful publick walk. The publick edifices, are the buildings 
belonging to Yale College, 4 churches, a court-house, 
gaol and alms-house. The population in 1820, was 7,147. 

Hartford on the west bank of Connecticut river, 50 
miles from its mouth, is the seat of government, and is 
distinguished, not only for its commerce, but for its agri¬ 
culture, and a variety of manufactures. The population 
in 1820, was 6,901. The township is nearly 6 miles 
square; but the incorporated part, or city, is but little 
more than one mile. The publick edifices are a hand¬ 
some State-house, bank, six churches, and an asylum for 
the deaf and dumb. 

JVew-London, on the river Thames, is a place of con¬ 
siderable trade. The river here is one mile ^wide, and 
forms a safe, spacious, and commodious harbour, one of the 
best in the U. States. Its population, in 1820, was 3,330. 

lieligion. Congregationalists are the most numerous 
tieriomination of Christians in Connecticut. In no one of 
the States are the institutions of religion more generally 
respected, or the morals of the people more pure 

Literature, Yale College, so called from its principal 
benefactor, is the only one in the State. It ^is at New- 
Haven, and is a highly resj)ectable institution. The ^li¬ 
brary contains about 8,000 voluiues. It has also philo¬ 
sophical and chemical apparatuses, which are handsome 
and coiuplete. 'Fhe buildings are three colleges, a chap¬ 
el, lyceum, and a large dining hall. Academies are es¬ 
tablished at Colchester, Cheshire, Canterbury, Plainfield, 
Fairfield, Danbury, Litchfield, Ellsworth, Windsor, Hart¬ 
ford, Norwich, New-London, Woodstock, and various 
other places. Ample provision is made for common 
schools in every town, and educa ion is nowhere more uni¬ 
versally diffused amongst all orders and classes of people. 

Foreign Mission School At Cornwall is an institution, 
established bv the Board of Foreign Missions, in 1816, 
called the Foreign Mission School,” the ^object of which 
is to educate heathen youth, and fit them for missionaries 
to their countrymen, 'loiere vvere in 1820, nine from 
distant heathen countries, and seventeen Aboriginal 
Americans, chiefly of the Cherokee and Chocraw tiTbes. 
These are said to excite peculiar interest on accouiu oi 


MIDDLE STATES 


NEW-YORK. 


12T 

their surprising progress in knowledge. The scholars 
are taught the various branches of husbandry in the ear¬ 
ly and latter part of each <lay. 

An Asiflum for the deaf and dumb was established at 
Hartford, in 1816. This interesting and useful institu¬ 
tion contained, in 1819, 50 pupils, wliose progress in 
knowledge was really wonderful. 

Government. The legislature is styled the General 
Assembly, and consists of a council, who with the governor 
are chosen annually, and a house of representatives chosen 
twice a year. The judges and publick olFicers are appoint¬ 
ed but for one year, or hold their places during pleasure. 


ZVlIDDLi: STATES. 

The climate of the Middle States, or rather that of 
Pennsylvania, which is very similar, has been elegantly- 
described by the late I)r. Rush, as a compound of most 
of the climates in the world. It has the moisture of 
Britain in the spring, the heat of Africa in summer, the 
teinperature of Italy in June, the sky of Egypt in autumn, 
the cold and snow of Norway, and the ice of Holland in 
winter, the tempe'^ts in a certain degree of the ^V'est In¬ 
dies in every season, and the variable weather and winds 
of Great Britain in every month of the year. 

T)ie ^grand staple is wheat j Indian corn is also exien- 
sivndv cultivated, and fruit is very abundant. 'Fhe num¬ 
ber of negro slaves in these States is comparatively staal!. 

The Middle Spates have a tlirifty agriculture, and tiio 
inhabitants display much enterpri-^e in manufactures, par¬ 
ticularly in Pennsylvania and New-York. 

NEW-YORK. 

Face of the Country., Climate., > Vast ridges of moun- 
Soil u ul Proflaclions \ tains intersect this S'ate 
in a direction from north-east to soutli-west. On the 
’eastern side of these moui|tains the country is generally 
hilly; ’west of the nn)untains, between Pennsylvania and 
lake )iitai i:i, it is mostly level, of a rich soil, covered in 
its natural 'ate with beech and sugar maple. 'Phe’Gen¬ 
esee Fiatts, so called, are lauds lying bulb sides of Genesee 



128 


xW-YORk. 


river, about 20 miles in length, and 4 in breadth, exceed^ 
ingly rich, producing 100 bushels of Indian corn to the 
acre. The lands between Seneca and Cayuga lakes, and 
along the Mohawk, are r^resented as very excellent, 
and are settling rapidly. The ^climate west of the moun¬ 
tains is more temperate than in the same latitudes on the 
eastern side. The snow there seldom falls more than 
one foot in depth, and cattle are sometimes kept in pas¬ 
tures till January. The fever and ague is the ’common 
disease of this country 5 bilious fevers are frequent, par¬ 
ticularly in the flat, level country west of the mountains. 

Wheat is the ’most extensively cultivated of any kind 
of grain ; next to this, Indian corn. Rye is chiefly ’raised 
for the distilleries, and ’barley for the breweries. Beer 
is the ’common drink of the inhabitants. 

Rivers and Canals. The Hudson is a noble river of 
this State, and is ’remarkable for its smooth, gentle cur¬ 
rent through a hilly, rocky country, and even through 
ridges of some very high mountains, which have been 
cleft of their foundations, and a free, profound, and suffi¬ 
cient channel opened to the ocean. Its passage through 
the Highlands is peculiarly wild and romantic. The river, 
exceeding two miles in width, narrows its stream to pass 
between the mountains, in a channel whose breadth is not 
more than half a mile. The mountains through which it 
forces its way, though not very lofty, exhibit the most 
beautiful, themost variegated, and the mostmajestic forms. 
In some places, masses of rock, towering in perpend.icu- 
lar altitude, seem to threaten every moment to crush by 
their fall whatever passes beneath them. In other parts 
their form is more inclined In the narrowest part of this 
passage, which is 16 miles in length, is West Point, on 
which there was built in the time of the Revolution, a for¬ 
tress, which is so strongly fortified by nature and by art, 
as sometimes to have been called the Gibralter of America. 
This is the post that General Arnold intended to betray to 
General Clinton. It commands the navigation of the riv¬ 
er, which at this place is not more than one quarter of 
a mile in breadth. The ’tide flows up this river a few 
miles above Albany, to which place it is ’navigable for 
sloops 160 miles from the sea, and for large vessels to the 
city Hudson, 124 miles. There are two steam boats 
which run upon this river between Albany and the city 
New-York, each of which wdll accommodate 100 passeli- 


iJew-york. 


120 


gers on board. The voyage 160 miles, is ’performed in 
about twenty hours, and is the most pleasant imaginable. 
This ri ver is of immense advantage to the inland naviga¬ 
tion of the State. 

The Mohuwk is a very fine river. About 3 miles from 
its entrance into tlie Hudson is a remarkable cataract, 
called the Cohoez, where the water falls .iO’feet perpen¬ 
dicularly. The river at this place is about 100 vards 
broad. A bridge 960 feet bmg. anil 24 feet wide, resting 
on 13 piers, ha'> been erected about three (|uarters of a 
mile below the cataract, from which it exhibits a grand 
view to the spectator. Locks and a canal have been 
constructed at Little Falls about 60 miles further up the 
river, so that boats full loaded now pass them. 

Near the head waters of the xMohawk is a small stream 
called Wood Creek, which empties into Oneida lake, 
these two rivers are now united by a canal which takes 
the water from the Mohawk, and communicates ii to 
Wood Creek, which of itself is so low% in dry seasons, as 
to be totally insufficient to tloat a boat without the aid of 
the Mohawk. In descending Wood Creek into the Onei¬ 
da there are five locks. 

The Oneida is a most charming and beautiful lake, 
well stored with fish. The outlet from this lake is Onon¬ 
daga river, which name it bears only till it unites with 
Seneca river. The place of their junction is called Three 
Kiver Point. Here the Onondaga and Seneca, uniting,, 
lose their respective names, and assume that of Oswego 
river to lake Ontario. 'Phe navigation of this river is 
obstructed by falls about 12 miles from its mouth. Ex¬ 
cept these falls, and the Cohoez in the Mohawk, a boat 
navigation, by means of locks and canals, is now opened 
the whole distance from lake Ontario to the Atlantic 
Ocean. The freight on goods, per hundred weight, the 
whole distance amounts to about 2 dollars, 56 cents. 

'‘Minerals. Iron ore abounds in this State. Mines ol 
zinc and copper have also been discovered. Slate and 
plaister of Paris are abundant. 

'^Mineral Springs. Pallstown springs, 30 miles north of 
Albany and Saratoga, 7 miles north-west from Ballstown, 
are the most celebrated mineral springs in the U. States. 
'Phe Saratoga springs latterly are the most frequented on 
account of tlie purgative quality of the waters of one ot 
those sju'iiig'^, called tlie (amgress. I here are tliree 
otlier noted springs at this place, called the President, the 


130 


NEW-YORKi 


Columbian, and the Flat Rock, the waters of which are 
of a tonic quality, and verj similar to those at Ballstown. 
Not only the sickly and the infirm, but the fashionable 
and the j^ay from every State in the Union, resort to 
these springs, some for amusement, and others for health, 
to spend the summer months. 

Saif Springs. Salt springs are frequent in different 
parts of the State. The most noted are those between 
Oneida and Seneca lakes, rising in a marsh near Seneca 
river, called the Onondaga salt springs, of which 90 gal¬ 
lons of water will produce a bushel of salt. Here are 
^two towns,Liverpool and Salina, wholly occupied in mak¬ 
ing salt. 140 kettles at Liverpool and about 300 at Sali¬ 
na, are kept in constant operation day and night, and pro¬ 
duce about 2400 ^bushels of salt per day. The water is 
drawn up from wells by hand and horse pumps. No oth¬ 
er salt is used in the country, and a great part of the 
States of Pennsylvania, Virginia, Ohio, and Michigan Ter¬ 
ritory, as likewise the whole of Upper and a considerable 
part of Lower Canada, are wholly ^supplied from these 
works. These springs are the property of the State. 
Boats come within 4 rods of the works. 

Manufactures, In the year 1810, according to returns 
made to the Secretary of State, there were made in this^ 
State more tlian 9 millions of yards of cloth, principally 
linen and woollen, and about 525,000 bushels of salt. 
The same year there were in this State, 28 paper-mills, 
C glass-works, 2 powder-mills, 11 blast-furnaces, 10 air- 
furnaces, 44 cut-nail factories, 48 forges, and 26 cotton 
factories. Great quantities of pot and pearl ashes, and 
of maple sugar, are manufactured annually ^ some silk, 
and probably one million barrels of flour. 

Commerce, New-York carries on a very extensive 
commerce. Her exports in 1810 amounted to more than 
3 7 million's of dollars, of which nearly 11 millions were ot 
doraestick produce, and more than 6 millions of foreign. 
Her principal exports are flour, Indian corn, beef, pork, 
lumber, butter, cheese, pot and pearl ashes. 

Towns, The city New-York^ ^situated on the south¬ 
ern extremity of Manhattan island, at the mouth of the 
Hudson, is the most commercial place in the United 
States. The island is 15^miles in length, and about one 
in breadth. The channel on the eastern side is called 
East river. The three principal streets of the city run 
nearly parallel with the rivers. These are intersected, 


NEW-YORK. 


131 


tliough not at right angles, by streets extending from 
river to river. All the houses lately built are of brick, 
and many of them elegant. Fhe principal publick build-^ 
ings are the state prison, 307 feet in length ; the new 
city hall, a large and noble etliiice, of white marble ; 57 
houses of publick worship, and one synagogue. The 
number of inhabitants in 1820, was 123,706. 

Jilbany on Hudson river, 160 miles from the city 
New-York, is the ’second city in the State, both in point 
of population and commerce, and is the seat of govern¬ 
ment. It is a handsome well built place. A majority of 
the inhabitants are Dutch. The city is well supplied 
with water by an aqueduct from a spring 5 miles distant. 
There are 11 houses of publick worship. The number of 
inhabitants in 1820 vvas 12,630. 

Troy is at the head of sloop navigation, 6 miles above 
Albany and Hudson is at the head ol ship navigation, 30 
miles below Albany j both flourishing cities, in trade and 
manufactures. 

Utica is a flourishing village on the site of Fort Schuyler. 
Most of the goods intended for the salt works are loaded 
here in wagons and sent a distance of 50 miles. 

RomCy formerly known as Fort Stanwix, is delightfully 
situated in an elevated, level country. 'Fhe canal which 
unites the Mohawk and Wood Creek rivers, passes 
through this place. 

Osivego^ at the entrance of Oswego river into lake On- 
taiio, is a small town, whose chiefdependence is upon the 
storing and supplying of salt. Canada is mostly supplied 
from the salt works at Onondaga through this place. 

Inhabitants. New-\ ork was ’first settled by the Dutch, 
a people much celebrated for their industry, neatness, 
and economy. Of the present inhabitants besides the 
Dutch, there are many Irish and Germans, and some 
French, but by far the greater proportion are emigrants 
from the New-England States, or their descendants. 

Indians. The remains of the Six Nations inhabit the 
western part of this State. 

Religion. The denominations of Christians in thi-s State 
are very numerous, and ministers are maintained by vol¬ 
untary contributions. 

Government. The governor in this State is chosen for 
3 years ; the senate hold their seats 4 years, and a fourth 
part are elected annually j the representatives are chosen 
ty counties annually. 


132 


^'NEW'JERSEY. 


Islands. Long-Island is 140®iniles long, and from 1 to 
15 broad, well cultivated, and contains about 57,000 in¬ 
habitants. It is divided into 3 counties, (King’s, Queen’s, 
and Suffolk) and 21 townships. Brooklyn and Hemp¬ 
stead are the ^principal towns. 

Staten Island is. about 18 ’miles in length and about 6 
in breadth. It contains about six thousand inhabitants, 
and constitutes the county of Richmond. 

NEW-JERSEY. 

^Face of the Country. The northern part of this State 
is hilly and mountainous. At Sandy Hook commences 
that ’long range of flat, sandy laud, which lines the coast 
of the Middle and Souihiun States. 

Soil and Productions, 'fhe hilly and uneven parts of 
the State have generally a strong soil, and are a fine 
grazing country. The farmers raise multitudes of cattle, 
keep large dairies, and make great quantities ol butter and 
cheese. Fine orchards, and pt aches in great perfection, 
abound in all the northern parts. In the soulhern parts, 
the soil being mos ly light and sandy, the innabiiants 
subsist principally by feeding cattle on the salt meadows, 
and by fishing on tlie shines and in the rivers. 

^Minerals. Iron ore abounds in tins State. Near 
Newark ba^, between Hackinsack and Passaick rivers, is 
a rich copper mine of v\lucli 100 pouiids of the ore yield 
75 pounds of pure copper, about 7 ounces of silver, and 
a little gold. A lead mine has been discovered near 
Trenton ; coal is found on the Rantan. Plaister of Paris 
has also been discovered in this Stale ; quarries of free¬ 
stone are very numerous, and of an excellent quality for 
building. 

Manufactures. Of manufactures, that of iron is by far 
the most considerable, d wo furnaces, two rolling and 
slitting mills, and about 30 forges, [iroduce annually 1400 
tons of bar and pig iron, besides hollow ware, sheet iron, 
and nail rods. Leather of an excellent quality is like¬ 
wise made in this State, in large quantities, and is man- 
faciured into shoes. Beach and cider brandy are distill¬ 
ed for exportation. 

Commerce. New-Jersey has but little foreign com¬ 
merce. The produce of the ’eastern part of the State is 
carried to New-York ; that of the ’western part to Phil¬ 
adelphia. These two cities import almost all the foreign 
merchandise consumed in the State. 


PENNSYLVANIA. 


13S 


Towns, Jimhoy has a fine harbour, and but for its vi¬ 
cinity to Philadelphia and New-York is well situated for 
commerce. There are three other small ports in the 
State where there are custom-houses ; Burlington^ on the 
river Delaware, Bridg^etowri on the bay of that name, and 
Great Egg Harbour on the sea coast. These however 
are places ot very little trade. 

Newark, 9 miles from the city New-York, is the ®most 
populous town in the State, and contained, in 1820, 6,507 
inhabitants. The publick buildings are a court-house, 
jad, and 5 houses ol publick worship. 

Trenton is the ^seat of government, on the east bank 
of the Delaware, opposite the falls. If is on the great 
road between Philadelphia and New-York. Its popula¬ 
tion, in 1820, was 3,942. An elegant bridge has been 
built here across the Delaware. 

Religion, Presbyterians are the most numerous de¬ 
nomination. The expense of publick worship is defrayed 
by voluntary subscription : no person pays who does not 
choose, and there are many wbo contribute nothing. 

PENNSYLVANIA. 

Face of the Country, Pennsylvania exhibits a great va¬ 
riety of soil and oi surface. No portion of the land is so 
broken, rocky, and barren, as to be unfit for cultivation. 
The mountains, wliich are numerous, are not confusedly 
scattered over the country, but extend in long, uniform 
ridges, scarcely half a mde perpendicular in any place 
above the intermediate vallies. Some of these ridges arc 
narrow on the top ; some are two or three miles Broad ; 
others are steep on one side, and extend with a long slope 
on the other. They are mostly covered with wood. 

Soil. Generally the soil in this State is better suited 
for grain than for pasturage. Excepting the borders of 
streams and rivulets, it does not yield grass either in 
quantity or quality to be compared with the New-England 
States. Tiie ^iwo best tracts of land are, one in the 
south-east corner of the State, along the Susquehannah, 
the other in the north-west corner, between lake Erie and 
the Alleghany river. Lime stone almost every where 
abounds in this country, which enables the farmer to 
keep up the strength of his land, by the use of that pow- 
eitul and most excellent manure. 

‘‘Productions, The same kinds of grain are cultivated 
here as in New-York. Hemp is raised extensively in the 

M 


134 


PENNSYLVANIA. 


western part of the State. The Germans cultivate spelts 
for hoises. Peaches flourish remarkably well. 

ine is n^ade to some extent from wild grapes, and large 
quantities of maple sugar are annually manufactured. 

Minetah^ Iron ore is found in consitleiable quan¬ 

tities in this State. A valuable lead mine, said to yield 
70 per cent of pure lead, has been discovered near the 
Schuylkill. Various quarries of marble have been opened, 
and lime-stone is common. Coal abounds on theSusque- 
hannal), and about Pittsburg, and in some other parts. 
About 100 miles above Pittsburg is a spring, on the sur¬ 
face of which floats an oil similar to Barbadoes tar, which 
is esteemed serviceable in rheumatism, bruises, and weak¬ 
ness of the stomach. 

^Manufactures. Pennsylvania excels all the other 
States in the variety of her manufactures •, some of them 
are of superior excellence, particularly the articles of pa¬ 
per, leather, and brick. Printing and engraving likewise 
are executed at Philadelphia in a very superior style. Va¬ 
rious articles of medicine are manufactured in this State. 
Almost every species of iron casting is performed here. 
Screws for paper mills are cut from solid cast iron. The 
manufactures in wood, leather, iron, stone, copper and 
brass, are numerous. 

Commerce. Pennsylvania carries on an extensive com¬ 
merce with all parts of the world. Her ^exports are 
flour, grain, iron, utensils of all kinds, mahogany furni¬ 
ture, carriages, and other manufactured articles. The 
trade with the Eastern and Southern States is chiefly by 
barter. Wheat, flour, and bar iron, are exported to 
Maine,New-Hampshire,and Massachusetts, for whale-oil, 
whale-bone, spermaceti, sealskins, mackerel, cod-fish, and 
salmon ; to Rhode-Island and Connecticut for cheese j to 
Korth Carolina for tar, pitch and turpentine; and to South 
Carolina and Georgia for live oak, cedar, cotton, and rice. 

Towns. Philadelphia^ a very regular and opulent 
city, ^situated between the Schuylkill and the Delaware, 
110 miles from the ocean, 347 miles from Boston, 95 
from New-York, and 144 from Washington, is a place 
of great commerce, and with regard to manufactures 
exceeds every other city in the United States. The 
principal streets are straight, and cross each other at 
right angles. The houses are mostly of brick, three 
stories high. There are 60 ^houses for publick worship, 


PENNSYLVANIA. 


135 


some of which, particularly the First Presbyterian and 
the German Lutheran, are remarkably large and elegant. 
It contains numerous humane and literary institutions. 
The other publick buildings are a state-house with a gar¬ 
den occupying a whole square ; a town hall 200 feet in 
length ; a gaol, one of the largest in the United States ; 
a market, supported by 300 pillars ; Pennsylvania bank 
built of marble ; hospital, theatre, library, and alms-house. 
Over the Scimylkill is a bridge consisting of three arches, 
supported by stone piers. 

^Water is brought to the city in a subterraneous canal 
from the Schuylkill, and is then raised by steam 30 or 
40 feet to a reservoir on the top of a circular edifice, 
from which it is distributed by bored logs to the different 
parts of the cit 3 ^ The population in 1820, was 108,116. 

Harrisburg, on the east bank of the Susquehannah, 98 
miles west of Philadelphia, is the ^seat of government. 

Lancaster^ one of the largest inland towns in the United 
States, is 60 miles west of Philadelphia. 

Pittsburgh ^situated at the confluence of the Alleghany 
and Monongahela rivers, mav be considered as the me- 
tropolis of all the western country, with which it carries 
on an extensive commerce. It is ^supplied with foreign 
goods chiefly by land from Philadelphia and Baltimore ; 
the former at the distance of 297 miles ; the latter at 285 
miles. 'Fhe ^price of waggon carriage this distance is 
from 5 to 6 dollars a hundred pounds weight. Distille¬ 
ries, breweries, 4air furnaces, 5 glasshouses, and various 
other manufactories, are established at this place. Ship 
building is carried on with considerable spirit ; likewise 
the building, buying, and selling of boats, as very few of 
those which come from the rivers above, or which descend 
the Ohio, ever return again. The town is ^supplied with 
fuel from inexhaustible mines of coal in its vicinity. 

Among the publick buildings are a gaol, court-house,’ 
market-house, and 4 churches. The number of inhabi¬ 
tants, in 1820, was 7,248. 

Presque Isle is a pleasant town on lake Erie. Its situa¬ 
tion is high and healthy, and it commands an extensive 
view of tlie lake and the adjacent country. It has a large 
and spacious harbour, with a good depth of water. Its 
chief support at present depends upon the transportation 
of salt to the head waters of the Ohio. 

Hoads, Some of the best constructed and most sub¬ 
stantial roads in the United States are found in Pennsyl¬ 
vania. That from Philadelphia to Lancaster is 62 milds 


1S6 


DELAWARE. 


in length, 24 feet wide, and covered 18 inches deep 
with {‘ovvdered stone. 

Inhitbitants. The inhabitants of this State are of vari¬ 
ous descent. About half are Enjilish, a fourth' part Ger- 
n:an, the rest ate Irish, Scotch, Welsh, Swedes, and 
Dutch. The Germans are particularly ^distinguished for 
their temperance, industry, and econ«>my. S«)meof them 
are curious ar^izans, and some vejy important improve¬ 
ments in agriculture have been introduced by them into 
this State. The Germans, Dutch, and Catholic Irish, re¬ 
tain their own languages. 

Jieligwn. In this State are about 600 congregations of 
almost all ihe various denominations, including 2 Jewish 
synagogues. 

Education Connected with the University of Pennsyl¬ 
vania, at Phila<?el{ihia, is a medical school, the most re¬ 
spectable in the United States. The celebrated Lancas¬ 
ter plan of education has been introduced into Pennsylva¬ 
nia, and, it is said, attended with consifle. able success. 

Government. The legislature consists of a senate cho¬ 
sen foi four years, and a house of representatives, who, 
with one fourth part of the senate, are chosen annually. 
The governor is chosen for 3 years, but cannot be elect¬ 
ed above 9 out of any 12 years. 

DELAWARE. 

Face of the Country., Soil, and Productions. Excepting 
the northern part of the State, which i^s hilly, Delaware 
is mostly a low, level country, abounding in natural and 
artificial meadows, containing a great variety of grasses. 
On the eastern side it is indented with numerous creeks 
and rivers which generally have a short course, and are 
skirted with extensive marshes. The spine or height of 
land between Delaware and Chesapeak bays is in this 
State, on the summit of which is a chain of swamps, cov¬ 
ered with stagnant waters some parts of the year, which 
have an unfavourable elFect on the health of the inhabi¬ 
tants. In the northern parts of the State, and along the 
Delaware from 8 to 10 miles back into the country, the 
®soil is generally a rich clay, well adapted to the purposes 
of agriculture. Thence to the swamps on the high 
lands it is light, sandy, and of an inferior quality. 

Wheat is extensively cultivated in this State ; it is of a 
very superior quality, and is much sought for, not only 
through the United States, but in foreign markets. 


DELAWARE. 


Manufactures.' The manufacture of flour is carried to 
great perfection in this State. Numerous mills are 
erected for this purpose. M'liose on Brandj'vvine river, call¬ 
ed the Brandywine mills., are particularly famous. They 
are i2 in number. All their ^operations are performed 
by water, even that of unlading the sloops in which the 
wheat is brought to the mills. The sacks are hoisted in¬ 
to the granary,'the flour is ground, cooled, and bolted; 
all without the least manual labour. One of these mills 
will grind nearly 100,000 ’bushels of wheat in a year.' 
At the same place there are various other mills, such'as 
paper, powder, tobacco, sawing, and fulling mills, in all 
to the number of nearly one hundred. 

'Commerce. Flour is the ’principal article of export.' 
Con iderable (juanlities of lumber, procured chiefly from 
Cypress swamp, are also exported to foreign countries, 
and to the neighbouring States. 

Townn. IVilmlngton., is the ’largest town, situated 
on an elevation of latul between the Brandywine and Chris- 
ti.irm l■i^ers, 2 miles from the Delaware, and 27 from 
Pmladelpbia. -Population about 5,000. It is a place of 
considerable trade and manufactures. 

l)ove)\ the seat of government, is a pleasant town,’ 
containitig about 100 houses, principally of brick. 

Newcastle, 33 miles below Philadelphia, is pleasantly 
’situated tin the west bank of Delaware river. It is the 
point from which all the Piiiladelphia ships take their de¬ 
parture. When they are laden they drop down thither 
with their pilots, and take in their poultry and vegetables, 
where the captains, who remain at Philadelphia to settle 
their accounts at the custom house, join them by land, 
and from whence they sail with the first fair wind. 

Inhabitants. The ’first settlements were made by the 
Swedes, and their descendants still remain in the State. 
The greater portion of the present inhabitants, however, 
are of Knglish origin. 

Jieligion. 'Phere are various religious denominations,’ 
but the Presbyterian sect is the most numerous. 

JAterature. There is no college in this State. Eight 
academies are established ; and in 1796 the legislature 
passed a law to create a fund for the establishment of 
schools throughout the State. 

Government. The legislature consists of a senate 
elected for 3 years, and a house of representatives chosen 
annually. ^riie governor is chosen for 3 years, and 

M 2 


1S8 


5IARtLAN0» 


can hold that office only three years in six. He has no 
council. Judges are appointed by the governor, and 
hold their office during good behaviour. 

MARYLAND. 

Fate of the Country^ Soil^ and Productions. In Mary¬ 
land, as in all the Southern States, the ^country east of the 
mountains is generally a sandy plain, in many places low 
and covered with stagnant waters, by which the climate is 
rendered sickly in the summer and fall months. The 
’northern and western parts of the State are hilly and 
mountainous, and of a much better soil than the low coun¬ 
try, being generally a red clay or loam. 

Here commences the tobacco country. Wheat and to¬ 
bacco are the ’staple commodities. I'en bushels of wheat, 
and 15 bushels of Indian corn, are considered average 
crops. Some cotton of an inferior quality is raised here, 
and manufactured in families. Hemp and flax are con¬ 
siderable products of the high lands. The forests abound 
with nut-bearing trees, which feed many swine in the 
woods. These swine run wild, and when fatted, are 
killed, barrelled, and exported in great quantities. 

Manufactures. The ’most considerable manufacture is 
that of flour. Vast quantities of rye are distilled into 
whisky. Glass and iron Morks have been established 
in different parts of the State. 

Commerce. The ’most considerable export from this 
State is that of flour; ’next to this is that of tobacco. 
The other exports^are iron, lumber, maize, pork, and 
flax-seed. 

Towns. Baltimore^ ’situated at the head of Petapsco 
bay, is the third city in population, and the fourth in point 
of commerce in the United States- Its increase has been 
more rapid than that of any other town on the continent. 
It is divided into that part called the town, and into that 
called Fell’s Point, by a small arm of the Petapsco, called 
the Bason. The situation of the town is low, and but 
moderately healthy. It is very secure from any attack 
of a foreign enemy, by sea. A formidable attack was 
made on this place by the British in tlie late war, and 
was bravely repelled. Most of the inhabitants are engag¬ 
ed in trade, among whom many are English, Irish, Scots, 
and French. Great numbers of French people have emi¬ 
grated here since the revolution, both from France and 
from the West India islands. Baltimore possesses a part 


DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 


13^ 


of the trade of the back country of Pennsylvania, and of 
the Western States. Among its publick buildings are an 
exchange, 366 feet long, a penitentiary, a hospital, a the¬ 
atre, museum, Washington monument, a stone structure, 
263 feet high, on which stands the statue of Washington, 
a battle monument, in commemoration of the successful 
defence against the attack of the Biitish, the 13th of 
Sept. 1814, and 31 houses of publick worship. Its popu¬ 
lation in 1820, was 62,738, of whom 4,367 were slaves, 
and 10,326 were free coloured persons. 

•^nnapulis, 28 miles S. S. E. of Baltimore, containino* 
2,500 inhabitants, is the seat of government, and is the 
usual residence of the great officers of the State. In the 
centre of the city is the state-house, a most noble edifice. 
It has a large cupola with a lantern at the top, from whence 
there is a prospect as far as the Atlantic beyond the Ches- 
apeak. From the State-house the streets diverge in every 
direction like the radii of a circle. The other publick build¬ 
ings are a college, 2 churches, a market-house,and theatre. 

Frederickstown is a fine, flourishing, inland town, of 
about 300 houses, built principally of brick and stone, 
and mostly on one broad street. It carries on a consid¬ 
erable trade with the back country, which it supplies 
with merchandise drawn from Baltimore. 

lieligion. The State was first settled by Roman Catho¬ 
lics from Ireland. The other denominations are Episco¬ 
palians, Presbyterians, Calvinists, Lutherans, Friends, 
Baptists and Methodists. All officers of government are 
required to profess their belief in the Christian religion. 

Government. The legislature consists of two branches, 
the senate, and house of delegates. The senate are cho¬ 
sen fi>r 5 years by electors ; the delegates are chosen an¬ 
nually by the people. The governor is chosen on the sec¬ 
ond Monday in November, annually, by a joint ballot of 
both houses. He cannot continue in office longer than 3 
years in succession ; and when those have expired, can¬ 
not be re-elected till after the expiration of four years. 


DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA. 

The District of Columbia is a square of 10 miles on a 
side,cededby Maryland and Virginia to the United States. 
It *lies on both sides of the river Potowmack, 120 ^miles 
from its mouth, and ’comprehends the cities Washington, 
Georgetown, and Alexandria. 



140 


SOUTHERN STATES. 


The city Washington^ situated on the Maryland side 
of the Potowaiack, about 300 tniles by the river from the 
Atlantic, and 37 S. VV. of Baltimore, is the seat of gov¬ 
ernment of the United States. It is laid out on a plan, 
wiiich, when completed, will render it one of the hand¬ 
somest and most commodious cities in the world. The 
streets north and south are crossed by others at right 
angles; these are transversely crossed by 15 other streets, 
named after the different States. The ^houses are most¬ 
ly brick. The capitol, with a front of 362 feet, is built 
of white free stone, and is the most magnificent edifice in 
the United States. It is pleasantly situated on an emi¬ 
nence, commanding a view of every part of the city, and 
of a considerable portion of the country around. The 
^President’s house is 170 by 85 feet, two stories high, of 
free white stone. It stands on a rising ground, possess¬ 
ing a water prospect, together with a view of the capitol, 
and of the most material parts of the city. The number 
of inliabitants in 1820 was 13,247. 

Jilexandria^ 6 miles from Washington, is built on the 
plan of Philadelphia. It contains 8 churches, has a flour¬ 
ishing commerce, and bids fair to be one of the most 
thriving places on the continent. Population, 8,218. 

Georgetown is pleasantly ^situated on a number of small 
hills, on the northern bank of the Potowmack, ^separated 
from the city Washington by Rock Creek, distant from 
the capitol 4 miles, and 8 miles from Alexandria. It is 
a place of some trade, and has 6 churches. Its popula¬ 
tion in 1820 was 7,360. 

Literature. The Roman Catholic College., in George?- 
town, has a library of 7,000 volumes, and a valuable 
philosophical apparatus. 

The Columbian College in the District of Columbia.^ at 
Washington City, was incorporated in 1821. It is divided 
into two departments—the Classical and the Theological. 

southjsuh states- 

Face of the Country. Along the coast or eastern part of 
the Soutnern States, for 100 or 130 miles inland, to the 
head of tide waters in the rivers, the ^country is a sandy 
plain, without a stone or scarndy a hill, but little elevated 
above the level of ihe ocean, ’covered, in its natural state, 
with pitch pine, called pine barrens, and is ’supposed to 
have been made ol sand accumulated from the ocean, to¬ 
gether with the soil washed down from the mountains. 



Virginia. 


141 


This plain, or low country, as it is frequently called, 
is ’limited on the west by a remarkable reef or vein of 
rocks, rising generally a little higher than the adjoining 
land, supposed, at some former period, to have been the 
boundary of the ocean. It is now the head of tide waters. 
Over this reef of rocks all the rivers fall. ’Beyond these 
falls the land is hilly and generally of a good soil. This 
is the tobacco country. ’Further back it becomes moun¬ 
tainous. It is called the upper country, and much re¬ 
sembles the Eastern States. 

Inhabitants* About one third ’part of the whole num¬ 
ber of the inhabitants in the low country are negro slaves* 
Labour here is thought disreputable for a white man. It 
is otherwise in the upper country. There, having but 
few slaves, labour is thought no disgrace, and the white 
people cultivate and manage their farms much as in the 
Nevv-England States. 

Productions. Wheat and maize are cultivated in all 
the Southern States. The ’staple productions in Virgin¬ 
ia and North Carolina, are wheat and tobacco ; in the 
’States’further south, cotton and rice, and in the ’State 
of Louisiana, sugar. 

Manufactures. But little attention is paid to manufac¬ 
tures in the Southern States, for this ’reason ; that agri¬ 
culture, particularly the cultivation of cotton, is so much 
more profitable. 

Commerce. There is but little shipping owned in the 
Southern States. Much of the produce is ’exported in 
vessels belonging to merchants in the Eastern States. 

VIRGINIA. 

Climate. Virginia enjoys a mild climate. In the east¬ 
ern and southern parts, in ordinary winters, cattle subsist 
abroad through the season. Snow sometimes falls, but 
seldom lies long. The ’greatest cold at Williamsburg, 
in the course of five years, was 6° of Farenheit. 

Soil and Productions. The sea shore and the margin 
of rivers, in the low country, are bordered with marshes, 
which are fertile in grass, and feed considerable numbers 
of cattle. 

The mountainous part of this State, comprehending all 
the western part, is a fine grazing country, which enables 
the farmer to keep large numbers of cattle. The vallies 
between the mountains are generally fertile, and produce 


142 


VIRGINIA. 


excellent wheat. The forests abound with nuts, on which 
swine, running at large, are fattened in great nuoibers. 
Hemp is extensively cultivated west of the mountains. 
Almonds,figs,and pomegranates are cultivated in gardens. 
Virginia is particularly ^celebrated for its excellent breed 
of horses, many of which are of fine spirit. 

^Minerals. Lumps of gold have been picked up near 
the falls of the Rappahannock. It has been found also on 
the surface of the ground at a place between James and 
Appomattox rivers, where there are indications of a gidd 
mine. Valuable lead mines have been discovered on the 
Kanhawa^ about 25 miles fron> North Carolina line, 
which are wrought, and yield about 60 pounds of pure 
metal to 100 pounds of the washed ore. These mines are 
thought inexhaustible, and are supr-oscd capable of sup¬ 
plying all the Uniied States with lead and shot. Mines 
of copper have been opened on James river, but are now 
discontinued. Iron mines are wrought in many parts of the 
State. The country on James river for many miles in ex¬ 
tent, above Richmond, abounds in coal of an excellent 
quality. It is very abundant also west of the mountains. 
Marble of a good quality is found on James river, and 
lime stone every where west of the Blue ridge. 

Canals. Several improvements of this kind are pro¬ 
gressing in Virginia. The most considerable are those 
on the Potowmack. This river is 7^ miles wide at its 
mouth, and Ij at Alexandria, 290 miles from the Capes. 
Thence to the head of tide waters is 10 miles, above 
which the navigation of this river is obstructed by five 
considerable falls, around all which locks and canals 
have been constructed, so that it is now navigable for 
boats to Fort Cumberland, 188 miles above tide water. 

The Shenandoah, in the last eight miles of its course, 
before its junction with the Potowmack, falls eighty feet. 
Here six canals have been constructed, by which this river 
is rendered navigable nearly 200 miles. Round the falls 
in James river is a canal which terminates in Richmond, 
A company has been incorporated to clear the river 
through the mountains. Appomattox river is ’^navigable 
naturally to Petersburg. Thence to the lower falls is 5 
miles. Round these, and others above, are canals, by 
which this river is now rendered navigable from Peters¬ 
burg nearly to its source. 

A canal has been constructed 24 feet wide, 6 feet deep, 
and 22 miles long, which opens a navigation from James 


VIRGINIA. , 


143 


river into Albemarle sound, by uniting Elizabeth river, 
which euiplies into the James at Norfolk^ witli the Pas- 
quetank which empties into the sound. I'his canal passes 
within one mile of lake Drummond, in the middle of the 
Great Dismal, Irotn which it is supplied with water. 

Tovjns. Bicbrnond, on James river, just at the foot of 
the falls, the present ^seat of government, contained in 
18£0. 12,067 inhabitants. Its publick buildings are a peni¬ 
tentiary, armoi y, 8 houses of publick worship, a handsome 
State-house, court-house, and jail. It had a theatre, 
which in December, 1811, took lire during an exhibition, 
and was consumed, with seventy persons in it, who were 
unable to extricate themselves, among whom was the 
governor of the State. 

Not/oIk is the ’^chief commercial port. Its population 
in 1820 was 8,478. Peterabiirg^ just below the falls in 
Appmnattox river, has a thriving back country, and is a 
place of consiilerable trade. Williamsburg is handsomely 
laid out in squares. It contains a college, a court-house, 
jail, and a hospital for lunatics. Nine miles below Alex¬ 
andria is^AIount Vernon, the celebrated seat of the illus¬ 
trious Washington. The area of the mount is 200 feet 
aboxe tlie surface of the river, which is here nearly two 
miles wide. The mansion house, green-house, school- 
house, offices, and servants" halls, when seen from the 
land side, haxe the appearance of a village. 

Manufacturea and Commerce, I'lie ^most considerable 
manufactures are those of iion and lead. 

The ’principal articles of export are tobacco and flour. 
Pork,maize, lumber, tar, pitch, turpentine,and coal are al¬ 
so considerable articles. The people are much attached to 
agriculture, to the neglect of commerce and manufactures. 

Inhabilants. Virginia was originally settled hy the Kng- 
lisli. The lands east of the mouiuains are mostly divided 
into plantations, cultivateil by slaves. The proprietors 
are called jilanters, and usually rcNide on their plantations. 
The pernicious influence of slavery on the habits and 
morals of the people, are strikingly visible in this State. 

Jieligion, Baptists are the most numerous denomina¬ 
tion ; next to the-.e, Methodists and Episcopalians. 

Literature. Besides tiie University of incor¬ 

porated in 1819, and established at Charlotts ille, Albe¬ 
marle county, there are three colleges in this State; 
William and Mary college, at VVilliamsburgh, Hampden 
Sidney college, in Prince Edward county on Appomattox 


144 


VIRGINIA. 


river, and Washington college at Lexington, west of the 
Blue rielge, near James river. Academies and common 
schools are also established in several towns. This state 
has produced a number of eminent characters, of whom 
■Washington, the Great and the Good, is of most illus¬ 
trious inempry. It has furnished four of the presidents 
of the Union. Education is, however, generally much 
neglected particularly among the lower classes. 

(government. 1 he legislature is called the General As¬ 
sembly, and consists of a senate chosen for four years by 
districts j and. house of representatives chosen annually. 
The governor is chosen annually by joint ballot of both 
houses, and can hold the othce but three years in seven. 

Curiosities. The “Natural Bridge,” over a small 
stream called Cedar Creek, emptying into James river, 
a little west of the Blue Ridge, is justly regarded a great 
curiosity. It is on the ascent of a hill, which seems to 
have been cloven asunder by some violent convulsion. 
The chasm, or cleft, is about two miles long, from two to 
three hundred feet deep, and is 48 feet wide at the bot¬ 
tom. Over this extends a solid arch of limestone, from 
40 to 50 feet thick, at the amazing height of ^2l0 teet 
from the water, which is passed as a bridge. It is about 
90 feet in length, and 60 in breadth, some part of which is 
covered w ith a coat of earth which gives growth to a num¬ 
ber of trees. The very edge of the bridge may be ap- 
proathed with safety, being protected by a parapet of 
fixed rock, yet few persons have the courage to approach 
it, and to look down into the profound abyss below. 

The passage of the Potowmack^ through the Blue 
Ridge, is perhaps one of the most stupendous scenes in 
nature The Potowmack and the Shenandoah, having 
raiij^ed along the foot of the mountain, the latter more 
than 100 miles, both in quest of a passage, at length meet 
together, and, in the moment of their junction, rush 
against the mountain, rend it asunder, and pass off to the 
sea. A road on one side of the river leads through the 
beach ; also locks and canals have been constructed nere, 
§0 that now boats ascend through the mountain. 

Near Bath, at the foot of Jackson’s mountain, are the 
“ Warn) and Hot Springs.” The former issues in a 
large' stream sufficient to turn a grist-mill, and is of a 
temperature about blood heat. The other is smaller, but 
so hot sometimes, it is said, as to have boiled an egg. Its 
usual temperature is about 110 or 112'^ of Farenheit. 






















































































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NORTH CAROLINA. 


145 


In the low grounds on the Great Kanhawa, about 67 
miles from its mouth, is a hole in the earth, the vapour 
from which, issuing in a strong current, takes fire on 
presenting a lighted torch or candle, and continues to 
burn sometimes for two or three days. 

West of the Blue ridge, near the source of Shenandoah 
river, is “Madison’s cave,” which extends nearly hori¬ 
zontally 300 feet into the side of a mountain, and finally 
terminates in two places, at basins of water of unknown 
extent. The root is solid lime-stone from 20 to 30 feet 
high, through which water is continually percolating. 
This dripping from the top of the vault generates on that 
and on the base below, stalactites, like icicles, some of 
tvhich have met and formed massive columns. 

In the county of Munroe, near the Kanhawa, there is a 
remarkable cave, extending entirely through the base of a 
high mountain, a distance of 2 miles, through which per¬ 
sons have passed from one side of the mountain to the 
other. The earth on the bottom aftbrds saltpetre. 

In the Panther gap ridge, between North and Jackson’s 
mountain in the side of a hill, is what is called the 
Blowing Cave,” about 100 feet in diameter, which emits 
constantly a current of air of such force as to keep the 
weeds prostrate to the distance of twenty yards. 'I'his 
current is strongest in dry, frosty weather, and weakest 
in long seasons of rain. 


NORTH CAROLINA. 


Climate, The weather is generally moderate till after 
Cliristmas, vvlien winter cominences, and continues varia¬ 
ble till the middle of February, sometimes warm and 
pleasant, and at other times rainy, with occasional frosts 
and sometimes snow ; but the ice is seldom strong enough 
to bear a man’s weight. Cattle require no other fodder 
thaf> the husks and stalks of corn. 

Produciions. Wheat, rye, barley, oats, flax and hemp, 
thrive in the ’back hilly country V Indian corn and pulse 
in all parts. Cotton is extensively cultivated in the 
’middle of the State ^ some of the swamps in the low 
country produce rice. The Dismal is supposed to contain 
one of the most valuable rice estates in America. 

No country produces finer white and red oak for staves.. 
The live oak, so called from its being green all the y«ar,. 
and which is so valuable in ship building, grows in thi« 

N 


146 


HORTH CAROLINA. 


State. The ^medicinal plants are ginseng:, Virginia 
snake-root, Seneka snake-root, and Carolina pmk. 

Minerals. A littte south of Salisbury, in the bottom of 
Meadow Creek, a siiiall stream emptying into the Pedee 
river, gold has been picked up tn the amount of many 
thousand dollars. (^It was ^discovered first in IbOd, by a 
boy, exercising himself in shooting small fishes 'with a 
bow and arrow. The masses were of different sizes, 
from very small grains to the unexampled bulk of a lump 
weighing £8 pounds. In the year 1804, eleven thou¬ 
sand dollars of the gold coin issued from the mint of the 
United States were of this native gold. 

Towns. In this State, as in Virginia, there are no 
large towns, '.^ewbern^ the ^largest town in the State,/in 
1820, contained 3,663 inhabitants, of whom 1,921 were 
slaves. The publick buildings are an Episcopal church, 
a court-house, a theatre, and a jail. It carries on a con¬ 
siderable trade with the West Indies. 

Raleigh is the ®seat of government. It is pleasantly 
situated, divided by four spacious streets into as many 
squares, and contains upwanls of 2000 inhabitants. 

The ’other principal towns are tayetteville^ the best 
situated inland town for commerce in (he State, inhabited , 
by Scotch highlanders, who speak iheir native language 5 
tvilmington, a place of considerable trade ; Edenton^ 'well 
situated for commerce but not fin- health ; Hillsborough, 
in a healthy and fertile country ; Washington, in which 
more shipping is owned than in any other town in the 
State. 

Commerce. There is no great mart or trading place in 
this State, owing probably to the difficulty of entering 
the rivers, by reason of bars of sand, and the want of 
safe, sufficient harbours. Most of the produce of the-back 
country, consisting of tobacco, wheat and maize, is ’car¬ 
ried to Petersburg in Virginia, and toCliarlestown in South 
Carolina. The ’exports of the low country, are lumber, 
pitch, tar, turpentine, and rice.' The ’imports are apples, 
cider, cheese, potatoes, furniture, hats and shoes, from 
New-England; and foreign merchandise chiefly from 
New-York. 

Roads and Canals. The roads in this State have been 
much neglectetJ, and are illy accommodated with bridges. 
Canals have been constructed around the lower falls in 
Cape Fear River, and at the falls above. Chesapeak and 
Albemarle canal is partly in this JState: 


^OUTH CAROLINA. 


147 


Inhabitants, The inhabitants, as in Virginia, mostly 
reside on their plantations, at the distance of from half a 
mile to three or four miles from each other Most of the 
labour in the low country is done by slaves. 

Religion. The chief religious denominations are Meth¬ 
odists, baptists, Presbyterians, Quakers, and Moravians. 
The most numerous are the Methodists and Baptists. 
No person denying the being of God, or the truth of the 
scriptures, can hold any civil office. 

Literature. On Chapel Hill in an elevated situation, 
28 miles west of Raleigh, ^is North Carolina University, 
the only one in the State. Aca<)emies are established m 
a number of the towns, and schools in many places. The 
Moravian Academy for ladies, at Salem, has a good rep¬ 
utation. 

Government. The legislature is styled the General 
Assembly, and consists of a senate and house of represen¬ 
tatives cnosen annually by the people. The governor is 
chosen annually by a joint ballot of both houses, and is 
eligible to office three vears in six. 

Curiosities, 'Sear Salisbury therein a remarkable sub¬ 
terraneous wall of stone, laid in cement, plaistered on 
both sides from 12 to 14 feet in height, and 22 inches 
thick. The length yet discovered is about 300 feet. 
The top of this wall approaches within about one foot of 
the surface of the ground. When built, by whom, and 
for what purpose, is left wholly to conjecture. A sim¬ 
ilar wall has lately been discovered about six miles front 
the first, from 4 to 5 feet high, and 7 inches thick. 

SOUTH CAROLINA. 0 

Climate. Winter is scarcely known in South Carolina. 
Snow, so as to cover the ground, is a rare occurrence 
except on the mountains. The ’greatest cold in a 
course of ten years, was 17® of Farenheit. Vegetation 
ceases about the middle of December, and is usually ’sus¬ 
pended about four weeks, or till the middle of January. 
The ’planting season begins in March and April, and 
continues till June. 

Soil and Productions. Interspersed among the pine 
barrens in this State are tracts of land free of timber and 
every kind of growth but that of grass, called savannas, 
good for grazing. Another kind of soil is that of the 
marshes and swamps, and the low ground,on the margin of 


148 


SOUTH CAROLINA. 


the rivers, which have a rich, fertile soH, and are the 
®feeat of the rice plantations. 

The pine barrens are ’chiefly valuable for their lumber 
anti for the pitch, tar, and turpentine which they yield. 
Boxes ai e cut in the trees in which the turpentine collects. 
V hen full, the turpentine is gathered and put into bar¬ 
rels. A thousand trees will yield at every gathering about 
two barrels and a half of turpentine. It may be gathered 
about once in fourteen daj^s. Spirits of turpentine are 
’ol>ta.ned by distillation. Rosin is the ’remainder of tur¬ 
pentine after distillation. Tar is ’obtained by cutting 
down the trees. v\hich, being split, are piled, when dry, in 
heaps on floors of clay. 'Flie heaps are then covered with 
earth, and being set on fire, the tar collects in trenches, 
by w hich it is conveyed into cisterns. Pitch is nothing 
more than the solid part of the tar, separated from the 
liquid by boiling. 

Cotton is the ’great staple of this State. It is of ’three 
varieties. First, that which grows upon the islands, call¬ 
ed BLACK SEED OF SEA ISLAND COTTON. It lias a long fine 
staple, and is of the first quality. Second, that which 
grows in the middle, and upper country, called green seed 
or UPLAND COTTON, of a quality inferior to the first. Third, 
nankeen COTTON, as it is called. This is likewise the 
produce of the middle and upper country, but is of a 
quality inferior to the second. It is never exported, but 
is cultivated only for family use. 

Cotton ’grows in pods. The seeds are sown annually 
about two feet and a half asunder. An acre will ’yield 
from 700 to 1000 pounds. 'Fhe pods, when ripe, burst 
open. The cotton is then gachered and separated from 
the seeds by a machine which cleans 1000 pounds in a 
day. Before this invention, the upland cotton was not 
thought worth cleansing, and none of it was exported. 
Since that time it has become the great article both of 
cultivation and of export. 

The next ’great staple of this State is rice. This is 
c’liy.ated on the swamps and marshes, and on the margin 
of li css. i’he lands w'here it gf civ. ji requir e to be occa- 
siu ridy flooded with water. I'lie ’cu'iivaiion is wholly 
by Legiaes Nu work ran be ima;;ined n>ore laborious 
or niure prejudicial 'o h alth 1 hey are obliged to stand 
in vvuTt r irrries mid leg high, ex'pnsed to the scorch- 
in hey ,, uo. ami Oreat' an atmosphere jioison- 
ed by me uuwuoiesome edluvia of an oo?.y bottom and 


SODTH-CAROLINA. 


149 


stagnant water. After being thrashed and winnowed, it 
is ground in mills made of wood, to free it from tlie husk. 
Then it is winnowed again and put into a wooden mortar, 
and beat with large wooden pestles, which labour is so 
•oppressive and hard, that the firmest nerves and most vig¬ 
orous constitutions often sink under it. After this opera¬ 
tion, it is shifted and put into barrels. 

Tobacco and indigo were formerly much cultivated in 
this State ; at present, very little attention is paid to them. 
The apple does not thrive in this and the other southern 
climates. Melons are raised in great perfection. They 
have oranges which are chiefly sour, some figs, a few limes 
and lemons, olives, promegranates, pears and peaches. 
*Live oak grows upon the islands. 

Commerce, The ^most considerable article of export is 
cotton j '^next to tiiis is rice. The ^other articles are lum¬ 
ber, pitch, tar, turpentine, beef, pork, indigo and tobacco. 

Towns. Charleston is the ’largest town in the State, 
and the sixth in size in the United States. It is ’situated 
8 miles from the sea, on a peninsula between Ashley and 
Cooper rivers, whieli, uniting immediately below the 
town, form the harbour. The streets extend from river 
to river, intersected by others nearly at right angles. 
I he publick buildings are an exchange, a state-house, an 
armory, a poor-house, an orphan-house, and 18 houses of 
publick worship. The population in 1820 was 24,780, of 
whom 12,652 were slaves. This city carries oti an ex¬ 
tensive commerce, and is esteemed one of the most 
healthy towns in all tlie low country. 

Columbia is the ’seat of government. It contains about 
100 imuse*', and is a flourishing town. Beaufort is a pleas¬ 
antly situated town on Port Royal Island. Camden is the 
largest inland town in the Suite. It has an easy commu¬ 
nication with Charleston tlirough the Santee canal. 

Religion. The denominations most prevalent are Meth¬ 
odists, Baptists, and Presbyterians, in the upper part of 
the State, and Episcopalians in the lower part. 

Literature. Phere are several colleges in this State. 
The most flourishing is South Carolina college Sit Augusta, 
Formerly many wealthy parents sent their sons to Eng¬ 
land for their education j at present many are sent to 
Yale college in Connecticut, and to Cambridge University 
in Massachusetts. Free schools are now patronized by 
the State. 

N2 


1,50 


GEORGIA^ 


Government. The legislature is called the General 
Assembly, aud consists of a senate chosen for four years, 
and a house of representatives chosen for two. 'fhe'gov¬ 
ernor is also chosen for two years by a joint ballot of both 
houses. 

GEORGIA. 

Climate. The ’winters in Georgia are mild and pleas¬ 
ant 5 snow is seldom seen, nor is vegetation interrupted 
severe frosts. The thermometer usually ’fluctuates 
between 40 and 60 degrees. 

Face of the Country., Soil, and Productions. I'he ’coast 
of Georgia for 4 or 5 miles inland, is a salt marsh, at pres¬ 
ent mostly uninhabited. In front of this, towards the 
sea, there is a chain of islands, of a grey rich soil, cover¬ 
ed in their natural state, with pine, hickory, and live 
oak, and ’yielding on cultivation sea-island cotton. Back 
of the salt marsh there is a narrow margin of land, nearly 
of the same quality wdth that of the islands ; immediately 
back of which commence the pine barrens. The rivers 
and creeks are every where bordered with swamps or 
marsh, which at every tide, for 15 or 25 miles back into 
the country, are either wholly or partially overflowed. 
These constitute the rice plantations. 

The great ’staples of this State are cotton and rice. In¬ 
digo was formerly considerably cultivated. It is the 
product of a plant, ’obtained by maceration in water about 
SO hours, after which the liquor is drawn off into vats, 
where it undergoes an operation somewhat similar to that 
of churning. After this process, lime water is poured 
into the liquor, which causes the panicles of indigo to 
settle to the bottom. 

The pine barrens produce grapes of a large size, and of 
excellent flavour. The sweet oranges of Georo-ia are 
inferior to those of the West Indies. 'Fhe lemon,^citron, 
pomegranate, Indian fig and sftgarcane, find here a genial 
climate. The rivers of Georgia are infested with alligators 
and numerous reptiles, many of which are venomous. 

■Manufactures. Ihe manulactures ot this State are 
cotton cloths, some woollen, rum, peach brandy, whiskey, 
leather, bar iron, gun-powder, soap, and candles. 

^ Commerce. Georgia owns but little shipping. Savannah 
is the only sea-port of consequence. Most of the foreign 
merchandise used in this State is ’obtained from Ciiarles- 
fon and New-York. Cheese, fish, potatoes, apples, cider 


GEORGIA. 


151 


and shoes, are procured chiefly from the New-England 
States. The ’principal exports are cotton, rice, lumber, 
tobacco, canes, deer skins and maize. 

Towns. Savannah., on Sax^annah river, 17 miles from 
the sea, is the ’largest town. ' It contains ten publick 
squares of one acre each, enclosed and planted with rows 
of trees. Most of the streets also have rows of trees on 
each side. The publick buildings are a court house, a pris¬ 
on, an exchange five stories high, an academy, and 7 
houses for publick worship. A battery on the south side 
of the river calculated for 12 guns defends the town. The 
population in 1820 was 3,929 whites, 3,075 slaves, and 
582 free blacks ; in all 7,586. The fairest part of this 
city was destroyed by a tremendous fire, Jan. 11, 1820. 
I/iberal contributions for its relief were promptly made 
through the United States. 

MUledgeville, a flourishing and pleasant town, on the 
Oconee, 300 miles by the river from the sea, is the ’seat 
of government. The state-house is elegant. A shoal in the 
river opposite this town is famous for the quantity and 
quality of the shad caught on it. Augusta^ is a place of 
great trade in cotton, tobacco, and other produce, which 
are conveyed down Savannah river, to Savannah. The 
river at Augusta is 500 yards wide. Louisville was 
formerly the seat of government. Darien is a commer¬ 
cial town near the mouth of the Altamaha. 

Indians. The Creek Indians ’inhabit the western half 
of this State, anil the easterly part of Missisippi, and are 
the most numerous tribe in the Union. They have made 
considerable progress in the arts of civilized life. I'liey 
cultivate tobacco, rice, maize, and potatoes, and have 
abundance of tame cattle and hogs. Their women spin 
and weave, and their children are taught reading, wri¬ 
ting, and arithmetic. 

Literature, 'i'he University of Georgia, at Athens, is 
styled “Franklin College,” with provision for subordi¬ 
nate academies in each county. Free schools are also 
now established. 

Religion. The prevailing denominations are Baptists 
and Methodists, Presby tei ians and Episcopalians. 'Fhere 
are very few' regular cleigyrnen settled in this State. 

Government. The legislature is styled the General 
Assembly, and consists of a senate and house of represen¬ 
tatives, chosen annually. The governor is chosen fot* 
two years by a joint vote of both houses. 


15^ 


ALABAMA.... MlSSISlf^l. 


ALABAMA. 

Face of the Country, The ^sonthernparts are low and 
level, gradually rising towards the interior. In the 
’^northern parts it becomes elevated, and in some places 
mountainous. 

Towns. Cahawha., at the junction of Cahawba river, 
with the Alabama, is the ^seat of government Mobile, on 
the west side of Mooile river, is a place of increasing 
trade, and contains a Roman Catholic church, and a print¬ 
ing office. Blakely, 10 miles east of Mobile, is well sit¬ 
uated for commerce, and has a good harbour of easy ac¬ 
cess. St. Stevens is a flourishing town, situated on the 
Tombecbee, 1£0 miles above Mobile. Huntsville, the 
chief town of Madison county, is situated in a fertile 
country, at the head of Indian creek, 110 miles south of 
Nashville. 

Soil and Productions, This State has the advantage 
of many rivers, and its soil is, in general, very fertile. 
Its ^productions are cotton in abundance, Indian corn, 
rice, wheat, rye, &c. 

Educanon. Congress has granted two townships, con¬ 
taining 5 ^ 0,000 acres, for the support of a college 5 and 
given, for the support of publick schools, a section of 
land in each township. 

MISSISIPPI. 

Climate and Soil. This Statehas a temperate climate. 
Wljite frosts, and sometimes thin ice, have been known, 
but snow is very uncommon. The ’^soil is very superior. 
The savannas or natural meadows are covered with a black 
rich mould, about one foot and a half deep, beneath which 
is a stiff clay, wdiich hardens, on being exposed to the sun | 
but when wet by a light shower of rain, it slackens like 
lime, after which it is found excellent for vegetation. 

Productions. Cotton, rice, Indian corn, hemp,* flax, 
indigo, and tobacco grow in great abundance. Oranges 
and lemons are plenty 5 hops grow wild 5 all kinds of Eu¬ 
ropean fruits arrive to great perfection, and no part of the 
world is more favourable for raising every kind of stock. 

Fivers. The Vivers most worthy of notice are the Ya* 
zoo, 100 3 ^ards wide at its mouth 5 river, navigable 
150 miles 5 the Mobile and its branches. 

Chief Toums. Natches, 350 miles above New-Orleans, 
by water, and 150 by land, is the ^centre of commerce, and 


LOUISIANA. 


155 


contains 2,184 inhabitants. It has a bank, and is pleas¬ 
antly situated on an eminence IOC teet above the level of 
Missisippi river, which is here one mile wide and about 
100 feet deep. Sliips sometimes ascend to this place, but 
they rarely attempt it, as the sudden and frequent turns 
of the river render the fairest wind of very little use. A. 
vessel in ordinary cases will make a voyage to Europe and 
back again, in less time than she will ascend the river 
from Jyew-Orleans to Notches, 

Monticello, the seat of government, on Pearl river, is 
90 miles east of Natches. 

Literature, At Washington and Shieldsborough, col¬ 
leges have been incorporated. In several towns acade¬ 
mies are established. 

Indians, The remains of the Creeks, Cherokees, 
Choctaws, and Chickasaws have well cultivated fields, 
and great nmnbers of horses, cattle, hogs and sheep. 
Many of them are mechanics, and their women spin and 
make cloth. 

LOUISIANA (purchase.) 

The whole country between Missisippi river and the 
Pacific Ocean, formerly’belonged to France,'and was 
called Louisiana, from whom it was ’purchased, in the 
year 1803, by the United States, for 15 millions of dol¬ 
lars. Its limits between the United States and Spain, 
as defined in the late treaty, are, the western bank of 
Saline river, from its mouth in the Gulf of Mexico to the 
32° of north latitude 5 thence by a line due north till it 
strikes Red river ; thence following the course of this 
river westward to the degree of longitude 100 west from 
London ; thence by a line due north till it strikes the 
river Jirkansaw ; thence by the southern bank of this riv¬ 
er to its source in latitude 42° north ; and thence by 
that parallel of latitude to the Pacific Ocean. 

Much of this country yet remains unexplored. The 
’parts best known are along the Missisippi and other 
principal rivers. 

The Missisippi is ’subject to great inundations, the wa¬ 
ter in the spring freshets sotnetimes rising to the ’height 
of 40 leet. 'I'he banks of the river are somewhat higher 
than the adjacent country ; conseijuently at these inunda¬ 
tions, the wafers, w hich overtiow ant! for many mdes in¬ 
undate the country, j)articul.irly on the western side, 
never return again into the river, but seek other outlet:^ 
into the ocean. 



154 


LOUISIANA. 


I'lie' ^inhabitants in Louisiana formerly were mostly 
F.ench, except the native Indian tribes, which are nu¬ 
merous. But emi'^rants from the northern States will 
soon form the majority of the population. 

This count»'y at present is Mivided into four parts ; 
1 . the State of Louisiana ; 2. the State of Missouri 5 3. 
the Territory of Arkansaw ; 4. all the remaining part 
of the country extending to the Pacific Ocean, called the 
Territory of Missouri. The name, Louisiana, is now 
applied only to the first of these divisions. 

THE STATE OF LOUISIANA 

Lies so flat and low, that more than one fifth ^part of 
its whole surface is covered with water, by the overflow¬ 
ing of its rivers in the spring of the year. 

New-Orleam^ the capital of this State, is ^situated on 
the Missisippi, 87 miles from its mouth. The country 
here is lower than the .-.urface of the river, which is con¬ 
fined within its channel by artificial banks, called the 
^LfcVEK, raised at an enormous expense by order of the 
S])anish government. It is directly in front of the town, 
and aftbrds a very pleasant walk, which in the evening is 
crowded with company. All the ’water used in this city 
is brought from the river, which must be filtered or set to 
settle before it is fit for use. The expenses of living here 
are very high. 'The city is unhealthy, particularly to 
strangers. The number of inhabitants in 1820, was 
27 , 176 , of whom 13,592 were slaves. There are also 
a number of Indians in the vicinity who frequent the 
town. The formation of a Presbyterian church, and the 
rapid introduction of emigrants from the north, are said 
to have produced a favourable change in the morals of 
the place which formerly were deplorably low. This 
city is advantageously situated for commerce, at the 
mouth of one of the noblest rivers in the world, whose 
branches extending many hundreds of miles in almost ev¬ 
ery direction, w^aft to this port the products of various 
climates. The British naval and land forces attacked 
this place at the close of the late war, and were repulsed 
with immense loss, by the brave army under the gallant 
General Jackson. The enemy lost 700 killed, 1400 
wounded, and 2600 prisoners! The American army lost 
seven killed, and six wounded! 

The island of New-Orleans is’formed by the Missisippi 
on one side, and the lakes Ponchartrain and Maurepas, 


FLORIDA. 


155 


together with an outlet from the Mis«iisippi, calle^l the 
river Iberville, on the other. The emhankuient against 
the river commences at Fort Plaquimines, and extends 
to the head of the island, 130 miles, making an excellent 
road the whole distance, about i.0 feet wide, and dry at 
all seasons of the year. Below this fort the land rapidly 
subsides into swamps ; within a few‘miles further, trees 
entirely disappea>', and nothing remains but an immense 
collection of a marsh, a distance of about SO miles to the 
ocean. 

Natchitoches and Alexandria are on Red River; the 
former is 1200 miles above its junction with the Missisip- 
pi, and the latter, 80 miles below Natchitoches. Baton 
Rouge is 140 miles above New*Orleans on the E. bank of 
the Missisippi, and St. Francisville, 30 miles above Ba¬ 
ton Rouge. 

Rivers, The Missisippi discharges its waters by a 
great nuniber of mouths, the principal of which, or that 
which affords the best navigation, is called Balize, where 
there is a small fort and a house for the accommodation of 
pilots. The ’otlier principal rivers are the Red,, Wa- 
chitta and Saline '^ 

Productions.^ Cotton, sugar, and rice, are the ’staple 
commodities. The island of New' Orleans produces lem¬ 
ons, oranges”, and figs. 

FLORIDA (territohy.) 

This valuable acquisition to the territory of the United 
States is about 400 miles in length, and 340 in breadth in 
its widest part. The eastern is the’least fertile part, es¬ 
pecially near and about St. Jiugustine. The coasts are 
low, sandy, and barren ; but the banks of the rivers are 
rich and fertile, and well adapted to the culture of rice 
and corn. The ’interior country is high and pleasant, 
of a fertile soil, and aboumj^s with wood of almost every 
kind, particularly live oak. ^ The warmest and most fer¬ 
tile parts of this country will produce two crops of Indian 
corn in oqe year. The ’fruits are oranges, lemons, figs, 
and grapes. The coasts furnish oysters and amber ; ihe 
rivers abound in fish, but are molested by alligators. 

St, Jiugustine, the chief town of East Florida, contain¬ 
ing 3,000 inhabitants, is situated on the Atlantic coast. 

Pensacola, in West Florida, has an excellent harbour, 
and contains 2,000 inhabitants^ 


156 


WESTERN STATES. 


WrSTERN STATES. 

^The Western States ^comprehend all the States whick 
lie west of the Alleghany mountains. 

The ^climate in these States is much milder in the 
same parallels of latitude than in those eastward of the 
mountains: the quantity of snow is considerably less ; 
vegetation is several weeks earlier, and as much later. 
The north-east wind, so distressing, particularly in the 
Northern States, is hardly known here. Though the 
climate is milder, the weather, if possible, is more un¬ 
steady, and the atmosphere more replete with moisture. 
Rheumatism, pleurisies, consumptions, and bilious com- 
plaintSii are the most common diseases. ,, 

The ^soil generally is of remarkable fertility^. The 
flat lands on the rivers, in^New-England called intervals, 
are her^^ ^called doti oms. At some distance from the 
rivers the land often suddenly rises 6 or 8 feet, when 
there is another flat, and so on ; after this a third, palled 
first, second, and third bottoms, counting from the rivers 
upwards. 

Prairies, or natural meadows, in the Southern States 
called savannas, are frequent in this country. They are 
extensive, level tracts of ground, some of which are low 
and wet, others are elevated and dry, stretching often¬ 
times further than the eye can reach, for the most part 
entirely destitute of trees, of a deep rich soil, covered 
with a kind of coarse grass and cane. On these prairies 
buffaloes are often seen grazing together in herds of 
more tjian a hundred head. 

The^’productions of this country in the-most southerly 
parts are cotton, indigo, and some rice. Hemp, Indian 
corn, and tobacco, are produced in^preat perfection both 
in the southern and middle parts. In the ’northern parts, 
wheat, oats, barley^ rye, Indian corn, hemp, and flax, are 
mostly cultivated. 

The sugar maple abounds in all parts of this country, 
from which it is supposed, with sufficient hands, a supply 
of sugar might be made for the whole United States. 
Ginseng grows abundantly in the woods, and likewise 
wild grapes. Also a species of grass, called wild rye. 
It has a head anti beard resembling rye, and sometimes 
produces a small slender grain. 


WESTERN STATES. 


157 


The ^wild animals are buffaloes, elk, deer, bears, 
wolves, panthers, wild-cats, foxes, beavers, and otters. 
The buffaloes arc very domestic and harmless, and their 
flesh is excellent food. Pheasants, partridges, and wild 
turkies, are frequent in the woods. 

•The rivers afford plenty of fish. Those ^most common, 
particularly to the waters of the Ohio, are the buffalo- 
fish of a large size, and the cat-fish, sometimes exceeding 
100 weight. Trout have been taken is Kentucky’ weigh¬ 
ing SO pounds. On these waters, and especially on the 
Ohio, geese and ducks are very numerous. 

Fossil coal is found in various parts. It is remarkably 
pure, and burns with a fine lauibent flame, gives out »reat 
neat, and leaves but a small quantity of ashes. There 
are many springs called oil springs^ where Petroleum or 
Seneka oil is gathered in great abundance. Salt springs 
are very numerous, from which salt is manufactured for 
the supply of the whole country. These springs by the 
inhabitants are called licks, from the earth about them 
being furrowed out in a most curious manner, by the 
buffaloes and deer, which lick the earth on account of the 
saline particles with which it is impregnated. 

The remote situation of this country from the sea board 
’renders it unfavourable to commerce. ’This inconve¬ 
nience, however, is in some degi’ee remedied by its numer¬ 
ous, large, and navigable rivers, the principal of which is 
the Missisippi, the ’great outlet of the exports of these 
States. But such is the difficulty of ascending this river, 
that most of the foreign goods imported into this country 
have been brought from Philadelphia and Baltimore, in 
wagons over the mountains, until the invention of steam¬ 
boats, by which this country now begins to be ’supplied 
with foreign goods from New-Orleans. 

There are many indications that the whole of this west¬ 
ern country, at some remote period, must have been 
covered with water. One ’circumstance which particu¬ 
larly corroborates this opinion is, the vast quantities of 
marine shells frequently found in the hills at the height 
of 4 or 500 feet above the present bed of the rivers. 
Likewise bones, logs, and various petrified substances, 
are frequently found, in digging wells and roads. 

Remains of ancient forts and fortifications, and mounds 
of earth which are found to contain human bones, hence 

0 


158 


TENNESSEE. 


supposed to be graves of some inhabitants more ancient 
tlian the present Indians, are found scattered over all this 
■Western Country. „ 


TENNESSEE. 

Climate, Tennessee enjoys, a mild and temperate cli¬ 
mate. Wegetation commences 6 or 7 weeks sooner here 
than in Vermont or New-Hanspshire, and continues as 
many weeks later. Snow is seldom seen, and never 
continues for any length of time. 

Face of the Country,, SoiU and Productions. Some parts 
of this State are so mountainous as to be incapable of 
cultivation. The Wil is clayey, and on the rivers, es¬ 
pecially, is generally of a superior quality. 

The ^productions are those both of the Northern'end 
Southern States. Indian corn is produced in abundance. 
It is excellent for hemp. Cotton thrives well, and so do 
"wheat and other small grains where the land is not too 
rich. It is tolerable for flax and sweet potatoes. To¬ 
bacco and indigo are produced in great perfection, and it 
will answer for upland rice. 

Manufactures. The ’manufactures are chiefly those of 
iron, maple-sugar, salt-petre, copperas, whiskey, and 
peach brandy. '' There are machines for spinning cotton, 
and several for the manufacture of hemp. 

Commerce, The ’produce of this State, in order to get 
to market, is carried in boats down the Cumberland and 
Tennessee to the Missisippi, and down that river to 
New-Orleans. Cotton and tobacco have hitherto been 
the most considerable articles exported 5 but lately hemp 
has been much cultivated, and probably will become the 
staple commodity of the Stale. The Cumberland affords 
the same advantages for ship building as the Ohio, and 
during the rainy season, the water is of sufficient depth 
to float vessels of the largest size. 

Towns, Murfreesborough, pleasantly situated about 
the centre of the State, is the ’seat of government. 

Knoxville is situated on ilolston river, 638 miles from 
Philadelphia I 543 from Baltimore j and 458 from llich- 
inond : to each of which places there is a good wagon 
road. 

Nashville, on Cumberland river, is a flourishing towm, 
and the ’largest in the State. Cumberland College is in 
this town ; it contains also a factory of hemp and ma¬ 
chinery for spinning cotton. 


KENTUCKY. 


159 


Brainerd, on a creek which runs into the Tennessee, is 
a ’missionary station among the Cherokees, who are pro¬ 
gressing in civilization. Here the Indian children are 
taught to read and write, and receive rclmous instruction, 

mhahitants, Tennessee was first settled by emigrants 
from the western parts of Pennsylvania and Virginia, a 
little before the commencement of the revolution. 

Religion. The Methodists, Baptists, and Presbyterians, 
are the most numerous denominations. 

Literature. Acts of incorporation have been obtained 
for no less than four colleges in this State. Greenville 
college is the most flourishing. 

Government. The legislature is styled the General As¬ 
sembly, and consists of a senate and house of representa¬ 
tives, who, with the governor, are chosen for 2 years. 

KENTUCKY. 

^Climate. Snow seldom falls deep or lies Ion" in this 
State. Winter begins about Christmas, and continues till 
February, so mild that cattle subsist with very little or no 
fodder. By the beginning of March several shrubs and 
trees begin to shoot forth their buds, and by the middle 
of April the foliage of the forest is completely expanded. 

Face of the Country^ Soil and Productions. A tract of 
about 20 miles wide, along the Ohio is hilly, broken land ; 
the rest of the country is agreeably uneven, gently as¬ 
cending and descending at no great distances. Scarcely 
any such thing as a marsh or swamp is to be found in the 
State. In the vallies the soil is thin and of an inferior 
quality, but on the swells it is sufficiently deep, and of 
abundant fertility. The inhabitants ’distinguish its quality 
by first, second, and third rate lands. Lands of the first 
quality will not bear w heat; nor the second to advantage, 
till having been reduced by two or three crops of corn, 
hemp, or tobacco. At the depth of 6 or 8 feet from the 
surface there is a bed of lime-stone, w'hich extends near¬ 
ly over the whole State. From this circumstance, the 
springs and streams of water soon fail unless supplied by 
continual rains. The scarcity of water in the summer 
season is often very great. People are obliged to sink 
w ells to the depth of 60 or 80 ’feet througTi the lime¬ 
stone, in order to come at it for themselves and cattle. 


160 


KENTUCKY. 


Many strearng which in the spring have 20 or SO feet 
depth of water, in August and September become so re¬ 
duced as to be insufficient to carry a mill. 

The %igh lands produce abundant crops of wheat, 
maize, tobacco, hemp, barley, oats, rye, and flax. Hemp 
for several years past has been the ^capital article of 
culture. From 700 to 1000 weight per acre is an *ordi- 
nary crop. Indian corn yields on first rate lands 100 
bushels to an acre. A company formed for the purpose, 
in 1803, had 10 acres in grapes, under the superintend¬ 
ance of a Swiss gentleman. There are some private 
vineyards in different parts of the State. Cotton is sel¬ 
dom and with difficulty brought to perfection. Apples 
and peaches are abundant. Hogs are very numerous. 
Some of the inhabitants keep 150 or 200. They general¬ 
ly go in herds, and seldom leave the woods, where they 
almost always find a supply of food. The salt licks fur¬ 
nish salt, the maple supplies sugar, spirits are distilled 
from grain, the rivers abound with fish, and the woods 
with buffaloes and deer. 

Manufactures. In 1810 there was manufactured in 
this State, 324,870 bushels of salt, nearly 2^ millions of 
pounds of maple sugar, and more than 2,000,000 gallons 
of spirits, distilled chiefly from rye, besides considerable 
quantities of cloth in families. 

Towns. Frankfort is the ^seat of government, situ¬ 
ated on Kentucky river about 60 miles above its junction 
with the Ohio. 

Lexington is much the ^largest town in the State. 
The inhabitants are devoting themselves to the manufac¬ 
turing system. Here are 7 rope walks; 5 factories of 
coarse linen, in which upwards of 500 workmen are em¬ 
ployed 5 and three establishments for cotton spinning, 
one of which is on an extensive plan. A mill for the 
manufacture of flour to go by a steam engine has also 
been erected. The business dependent on Kentucky 
river is principally done here, as well as a great part of 
the whole commercial business of the State. The town 
contains an academy, university, two printing-offices, a 
theatre, and 7 churches. The number of inhabitants in 
1820, was 5,279. 

Louisville.^ ^situated at the rapids of the Ohio, carries on 
an extensive trade with Natches, New-Orleans, and St. 
Louis, and bids fair to become a large manufacturing 
town. It is 50 miles west of Frankfort. The passage 


OHIO. 


IGI 


down the rapids in boats is perfectly safe under the con¬ 
duct of a skilful pilot. 

Religion. The most prevailing denominations are 
Baptists, Presbyterians, and Methodists. 

Literature. There is college at Lexington, called 
Transylvania University, and one at Danville, lately es¬ 
tablished. Something has been done by the legislature 
for the support of common schools, but as yet to very 
little effect. Respectable private schools, however, are 
fast increasing in the State. 

Government. The legislature is styled the General 
Assembly, and consists of a senate, chosen by districts for 
4 years, and a house of representatives chosen annually. 
The governor is chosen by the people for 4 years, and is 
illegible again for 7 years. 

Curiosities. At Big Bone Lick, near the Ohio in this 
State, have been found, at the depth of about 11 feet be¬ 
low the surface, a great number of bones, of most enor¬ 
mous size and weight, supposed to be of the Mammoth, 
now extinct. One of the tusks found here was 16 feet in 
length, 21 inches in circumference, and weighed nearly 
100 pounds •, teeth or grinders have been found from 5 
to 12 pounds weight, and otlier bones in proportion. 

OHIO. 

"^Climate. The winters in Ohio are mild. Snow never 
falls deep, and seldom remains more than 3 or 4 days on 
the ground. Fever and ague, and bilious remitting levers 
are prevalent diseases on some of the low, wet lands 5 
otherwise the State is healthy. 

Face of the Couniri/^ Soil^ and Productions. This State 
is agreeably diversified with swelling eminences and fer¬ 
tile plains.* There are no elevations which deserve the 
name of mountains.. The hills, though frequent, swell 
gcfitly, are of a deep rich soil, and well adapted for the 
production of grain. The upper or northern part is the 
^most uneven. From the Scioto westward, it is mostly a 
level country. In several parts are extensive plains, call¬ 
ed prairies, or natural meadows, covered with wild grass 
and cane, but destitute of trees or shrubbery. These are 
pastures for large herds of buffaloes, which fatten on the 
herbage. Fhe fiat or bottom lands, as they are called, 
on the Ohio, and other rivers, are remarkably fertile. 
The ’productions are wheat, oats, barley, rye, Indian 


162 


OHIO» 


corn, hemp, and flax. The country in its natural state is 
covered with vast and majestick forests. A sycamore tree 
in the neighbourhood of Marietta is said to measure 60 
feet in circumference, and being hollow will contain 18 
or 20 men. Bears, deer, and turkies, are the principal 
game, and the rivers are well stored with fish, 

^Minerals. Inexhaustible mines of pit coal are found 
from Pittsburg many miles down the river, and in otlier 
parts of the State. Free stone and iron ore are abundant 
on the banks of the Hockhocking. There are also valu¬ 
able salt springs on the Scioto and near the Muskingum, 
which are the property of the State. 

Rivers, The Ohio is the boundary of this State on the 
south. In common winter and spring floods this river 
aftbrds from 40 to 50 feet of water. The only serious 
^obstruction to its navigation are the rapids at Louisville^ 
where the river descends 22^ feet in the distance of two 
miles. Large vessels pass down these rapids in high 
spring tides in safety, but cannot reascend. A canal is 
here contemplated, which, wiien completed, will render 
this noble river navigable its whole extent. '1 he Ireshets 
sometimes ’rise in (i»is river to the astonishing height of 
40 feet. Various kinds of boats are used in its naviga¬ 
tion ; some are boarded up ai the sides and roofed some¬ 
thing like a rope walk. It may be proper in this place to 
notice the jloming miils for grinding grain, which are Ire- 
quently seen upon this river. The mill is ’supported by 
two large canoes, with the wheel between them •, this is 
moored wherever they can find the strongest current, 
nearest to the shore, by the force of which alone the mill 
is put into operation. In this manner the mill is floated 
up and down the river wherever a customer calls. 

The Muskiriginn is a gentle river, confined by high 
banks. It is 250 yards wide at its confluenc e with the 
Ohio, 180 miles below Pittsburg. It is ’navigable for 
small batteaux to its source, fnmi thence by a portage of 
7h miles a communication is opened to lake Erie, thi ough 
the Cayahoga, winch is navigable its whole length, with¬ 
out any obstruction from falls. 

The Scioto is a large, navigable river. A canal is in 
progress to connect this river with lake Erie, which, when 
completed, will exceed 300 miles in lengtii. 

The Great Miami has a very stony channel, a swift 
stream, but no falls. It is 300 yards wide at its mouth. 
This river interlocks with the Scioto, and has several 


OHIO. 


]63 


beatable branches, one of which approaches within 4 
miles of a branch of the Miami of the Lakes^ while anoth¬ 
er branch by a portage of 7 miles communicates with the 
Sandusky. 

Commerce. The ^exports from this State consist of 
flour, corn, hemp, flax, beef, pork, smoked hams of veni¬ 
son, whiskey, peach brandy, and lumber. 

Lately the building of ships has been commenced in 
this State for the purpose of carrying its produce to mar¬ 
ket. These are laden at spring flood, and descend the 
rivers in perfect safety to the Atlantic, whence they pio- 
ceed to the West-lndies, or other parts, where they are 
disposed of, both vessel and cargo. The first ships built 
here were in 1802, at Marietta. Tlu-ir frames were al¬ 
most wholly of black walnut, which is said to be as dura¬ 
ble as the live oak. All the materials for ship-building 
abound in this country—timber, hemp, and iron. Of black 
walnut, white oak, and locust, there are almost inexhaus¬ 
tible quantities, besides yellow pine for masts and spars ; 
and there is no country which can produce the article of 
hemp in greater abundance, or at a more moderate price. 

'fowns. Columbus, situated on the east bank ot the 
Scioto, is the seat of government, and contains about IGUO 
inhabitants. 

Manelta is the Wildest tow'ii in the State, and delight¬ 
fully situated at the confluence of the Muskingum with 
the Ohio. The streets are spacious, and cross each other 
at right angles. It has a jail, court house, academy, and 
3 rope walks, 850 feet in length. The number of inhab¬ 
itants in 1810, was 1463. 

Chilicuthe is ’situated in a fertile country on the Scioto, 
about 100 miles from its mouth. It is laid out on the 

f )lan of Philadelphia, and ctmtains a jail, state-house of 
lew ii stone, and 2,426 inhabitants. 

Cincinnali is tiie largest town, 300 miles below Mari¬ 
etta. It contains about 10,000 inhabitants. In this town 
is fort Wasiiington, which commences the chain of forts 
extending to the westward. Here are 10 houses of pub- 
lick worship. 

Athens, the ’seat of the University in this State, is de- 
lighifull} ’situated in a healthy and fertile country, on 
the llockhocking, 40 miles by water froni the Ohio, and 
commands an extensive prospect of the river and the sur¬ 
rounding country. Its population is about 1,000. 


164 


INDIAKA. 


Literature. Ohio University, at Atliens, was incorpo¬ 
rated in 1801. Miami University was incorporated in 
1809. In Ohio are also 11 academies •, and schools are 
general throughout this growing State. 

Government, The legislature is styled the General 
Assembly, and consists of a senate chosen for two years, 
and a house of representatives chosen annually. The 
governor is chosen for two years, and is eligible only 6 
years in any term of 9 years. 

^.Antiquities and Curiosities, Vast mounds and walls of 
earth have been discovered in various parts of this State, 
particularly at Marietta, which havet*xcited the astonish¬ 
ment of all who have seen or heard of them. When, and 
by whom they were constructed, and-^for w^hat purpose, 
are matters wholly of conjecture. The present race of 
Indians have no tradition, which can lead to any discov¬ 
ery. They are however ^supposed to be the remains of 
ancient forts. Those at Marietta are in squares. One 
of these contains 40 acres, encompassed by a wall of 
eartli from 6 to 10 feet high, with three openings on 
each side, resembling tw'elve gates. 

Similar works have lately been discovered on one of 
the banks ot the Muskingum, the ramparts of which, in 
some places, are 18 feet in perpendicular height. 

Near these forts there are ever discovered mounds of 
earth thrown up in the form of a sugar loaf, supposed to 
bo Indian graves. One of these at Marietta is 115 feet 
in diameter, and SO feet in perpendicular height. An 
opening being made into the top, it was found to contain 
human bones. 

A copper coin has been found on the bank of the Little 
Miajni, 4 feet under ground. The characters on the coin 
are Old Persian, In digging a well at Cincinnati, the 
stump of a tree was discovered, 94 feet below the sur¬ 
face, which had evident marks ot the axe. 

I 

INDIANA. 

Neither the climate, face of the country, soil, or pro¬ 
ductions of the Stare of Indiana, dilter materially from 
those of the State of Ohio, already described. 

Fiikava prairie or plain, is a high, level ground, in this 
State, seven miles long and three broad, of a rich soil, on 
which there was never a tree since the memory of man. 
Two bundled acres of wheat were seen growing here at 


ILLIl^OIS. 


165 


one time a few years since, yielding 50 bushels on an 
acre. These prairies are ’covered naturally with grass 
from 4 to 8 feet high. 

The maple tree affords a supply of sugar, and the salt 
springs an abundance of salt. A silver mine is said to 
have been discovered on the Wabash, 28 miles above 
Oniatanon. Coal is found in plenty on all the rivers 
emptying into the Ohio. 

Vincennes, about 200 miles from the mouth of the Wa¬ 
bash, is the ’largest town in the State, situated in a fer¬ 
tile country. It contains about 2,500inhabitants. Here 
most of the commerce of the State centres. The com¬ 
munication with Detroit is by the Wabash, and Miami 
rivers, the carr_ying place between which is about 15 
miles. ’Goods from Canada are brought down the 77/i- 
nois ; from New-Orleans up the Missisippi; and from 
the eastern States down the Ohio and up the TVahash. 

Indianopolis, 110 miles N. of Louisville, in Kentucky, 
is the ’seat of government. 

ILLINOIS. 

The State of Illinois is mostly a level country. The 
meadows on the river Illinois in some places extend as far 
as the eye can reach. This river is ’navigable 450 miles 
with a gentle current, and is 400 yards wide at its mouth. 

The lands situated on the principal rivers, called bot¬ 
toms, are of the first quality and of inexhaustible fertility, 
having been cultivated, in some places, for more than a 
century without manure. Oak is the ’most common tree 
of the forest. Black walnut, sugar-maple, beech, mul¬ 
berry and white pine, are found in their proper soils. 

The military bounty lands, granted to the soldiers, who 
enlisted into the army of the United States, in the late 
war, are situated in this State, on the peninsula formed 
by the Missisippi and Illinois rivers. 

More than 200,000 bushels of’salt are said to be made 
annually at the arxlt works belonging to the United States, 
on Saline riyer, T»hicli is sold at about 50 cents a bushel. 

Buffaloes, elk, deer, turkies, ducks, and geese, are 
numerous in Illinois. 

Kaskaskia is the largest town. Vandalia, 65 miles 
N. E. of St. Louis, is the seat of government, which was 
organized in 1818. 


166 


MISSOURI....MICHIGAN TERRITORY. 


MISSOURI. 

St. Louis^ the centre of the fur trade in this countr^r, 
is beautifully’situated on the west bank of the Missisippi, 
and contains 4,598 inhabitants. A brisk commerce is 
kept up between this place and New-Orleans, distan. 
1300 miles, by means of steam boats. 

Jelferson, the seat of government, is situated on the 
M issouri, a few miles above the mouth of Osage river. 

About 50 miles west from St. Genevieve, by a good 
wagon road, are the ’famous lead mines., including a dis¬ 
trict 70 miles in length, and 45 in breadth, the whole of 
wiiich abounds with lead ore, so exceedingly rich, that 
100 pounds of the ore will ’yield from 70 to 80 of fine 
lead. ’ The produce is more than 1300 tons annually, an<L 
from the inexhaustible state of the mineral, it is supposed 
the quantity might be increased sufficient to supply the 
world. Herculaneum, on the Missisippi, 30 miles be¬ 
low St. Louis., and St. Genevieve, 30 miles below Her¬ 
culaneum, are the ’principal depots of the mines, to which 
places all the lead is transported, and from whence it is 
sent up the Ohio as far as Pittsburg, and down the 
Missisippi to New-Orleans, 

On the banks of Saline creek, 10 miles below St. Ge¬ 
nevieve, are a number of salt springs. 

Wheat, maize, hemp, tobacco, cattle and swine, are 
the ’chief productions. 


MICHIGAN TERRITORY. 

The .’climate is cold and healthy. Very little snow 
falls here, but the ice on the rivers and lakes affords good 
travelling. The ’soil of this level and well watered coun¬ 
try, is generally fertile." The ’productions are wheat, 
maize, oats, barley, peas, apples, pears,peaches and grapes. 
The ’forests consist of oak, black walnut, sugar-maple, 
beech, ash, elm, sycamore, cedar and pines. The rivers 
and lakes abound with fish, and the woods with bees. 

Detroit, the ’chief town, situated o^'^V^etroit river be¬ 
tween Lakes St. Clair and Erie, 9 miles south of the for¬ 
mer, containing about 1400 inhabitants, is well laid out, 
the streets crossing each other at right angles. It is a 
place of consideraole trade, which consists chiefly in a 
barter of coarse European goods with the natives for furs. 
The streets are generally crowded with Indians in the 
day time j but at night they are shut out of the town. 



TERRITORIES. 


167 


NORTH-WEST TERRITORY 

Lies between Mhsisippi river and Superior and Mich¬ 
igan Lakes ; the Brlrisli Possessions being on the north, 
and Illinois on the south. On Green Bay^ which extends 
100 miles from the N^. W. side of lake Michigan, the U. 
States have a fort and garrison, at the mouth of Fox riv¬ 
er. Its other rivers arc St. Mary’s, which connects lake < 
Superior with lake Huron, Ouisconsin, Fox, Black, Chip- 
pa way and St. Croix. 

ARKANSAW TERRITORY. 

This country is flat from the Missisippi westward for 
150 miles, when it becomes broken and hilly. The ’dis¬ 
eases most common are the ague and slow bilious fevers, 
which few new-comers escape. 

On the rivers the ’soil is abundantly rich and fertile ; 
back from the rivers it is poor, for two or three hundred 
miles, when it becomes good. There is a great want of 
water in many parts of this country. The ’produce of 
cotton, where the land is well tended, is about 1000 
pounds in the seed to the acre ; Indian corn, from 50 to 
60 bushels. This country is well adapted for raising cattle. 

On a branch of Arkansaw river there is a salt prairie, 
which, in a dry season, is said to be covered for several 
miles with fine, white, crystallized salt. 

The principal rivers are Jirkansaw^ IVkite, St. Fran¬ 
cis, and Wacliitta. 

Arkopolis, 300 miles above the Missisippi, on the Ar¬ 
kansaw, is the seat of government. Dwight, a mission¬ 
ary station among the Cherokees, is situated about 400 
miles from the mouth of the Arkansaw river. . 

MISSOURI TERRITORY 

Extends from the Missisippi on the E. to the Pacific 
ocean on the W. and from the British Possessions on the 
N. to the Spanish Possessions on the South. The great 
rivers Missouri, Missisippi and Columbia, have numerous 
branches in the Territory, the least of which are more 
than 500 miles long. Near the mouth of Columbia river, 
is a wide settlement, called \storia, where the fur trade 
is carried on with the Indians. Numerous tribes of In¬ 
dians inhabit this vast Territory ; tlie Sioux, the Usages, 
the Kansas, and the Pawnees, are t!ie principal ; of the 
others little is known That part of the Territory, west 
ol the Rocky Mountains, which divide it, U called the 
Territory of Oregon or Western Territory. 


168 


NEW-BRITAIN.... CANADA 


BRITISH FOSSESSIOHS 

IN NORTH AMERICA. 

The British Possessions, taken in their widest extent, 
exhibit a great variety of aspect and of climate, nine- 
tenths of which are in possession of the Indians. 

NEW BRITAIN. 

That part called Labrador is full of frightful mountains, 
many of which are of a stupendous height. The vallies 
present numerous lakes, and produce only a few stunted 
trees. In the parallel of 60° north latitude, all vegetation 
ceases. Such is the intenseness of the cold in the winter, 
that brandy and even quicksilver freezes into a solid mass; 
rocks often burst with a tremendous noise, equal to that 
of the heaviest artillery. At Nain, Okkak and Hopedale, 
the Moravian missionaries have settlements. 

In New North and South Wales the face of the country 
has not quite the same aspect of unconquerable sterility 
as that of Labrador, and the climate, although in the same - 
parallel of latitude, is a little less rigorous. But it is only 
the coasts of these immense regions that are known, the 
interior having never yet been explored. The ^natives 
are called Esquimaux. Some factories and forts for the 
purpose of carrying on the fur trade with the Indians,are 
established by the Hudson’s bay and North-west com¬ 
panies. 

CANADA. 

Canada w^as taken possession of and first settled by the 
French, from whom it was afterwards conquered by the 
English. 

Between Quebec and the Gulf of St. Lawrence, the 
country is mountainous and a few scattered mountains 
also occur between Quebec and the mouth of the river 
Uttawas ; but higher up the St. Lawrence, the ’face of the 
country is flat. The’soil is various, butgenerally fertile. 
In Lower Canada it consists mostly of a blackish earth of 
about a foot deep, on a bed of clay. The island of Or¬ 
leans near Quebec, and the lands on the St. Lawrence 
and other rivers are remarkable for the richness of their 
soil. The meadow grounds, or savannas, are for the most 
part exceedingly fertile. 

The severity of the climate, however, counterbalances 
the fertility of the soil. Though Canada is situated in 


CANADA. 


169 - 


ihe temperate latitude of France, the climate corresponds 
with that ot the parallel of 60° in Siberia. 'Fhe’extremes 
of heat and cold are astonishing ; Farenheit’s thermome¬ 
ter in the months of July and August, rising to 96°, and 
yet in winter the mercury generally freezes. Changes 
of weather, however, are less frequent, and the seasons 
more regular than in the United States. Snow not un- 
frequently begins to fall in October, and increases in No¬ 
vember ; in December the clouds are generally dissolved, 
and the sky assumes a bright hue, continuing for weeks 
without a single cloud. 

Here, however, as at Petersburg, winter is the season 
for amusement, and the sledges drawn by one or two 
horses, afford a speedy and pleasant conveyance in trav¬ 
elling ; but on going abroa<l, all parts of the body, ex¬ 
cept the eyes, must be thickly covered with furs. 

In May tlic ’thaw' comes on suddenly, and in its pro¬ 
gress the ice in the river St. Lawrence bursts with the 
noise of cannon, and passes towards the ocean with 
tre nendous rapidity and violence. Tiie ’progress of 
vegetation is astonishing. Spiiiig has scarcely appeared 
before it is succeeiled by summer. In a few days the 
trees rejxain their folia:j,e, and the ficUls are clothed with 
the richest verdure. Septeuiber. generaily, is one of the 
most ’greciibie months. 

V\ i eat isi aised lor exportation; a little tobacco for 
private as* ; Indian corn in Upjeu Canada ; rye, barley, 
and oats. The sugar maple atfo.ds a supply ot sugar; 
the meadows Nield excellent grass, and teed great num- 
bers ot cattle. 

'Phe ’Canadian horses are mostly small and heavy ; but 
very brisk on the road, traNelliiig at the rate ot 8 or 9 
miles an hour, d'he calasli, a sort of one horse chaise, 
capable of holding two persons and the driver, is the 
’carriage most generally in use. 

'idle Canadians have a species of large ’dogs which are 
used in drawing burdens. fhey are yoked into little 
carls : in this way people frequently go to market. 
Sometimes they perform long jviuiiiies in tlie winter sea¬ 
son, on the SHOW’, by half a ilozen or more of these animals 
yoked into a cariole or sledge. 

Quebec is the ’capital, not only of Canada, but of all 
Hriiish America. It is ’situated on a lofty point of land 
at the coniluence of the river St. Charles w'ith the St. Law¬ 
rence, 320 ’mdes from the sea, and 364 ’from Boston. 

P 


iro 


CANADA. 


Nearly facing it, on the opposite shore, there is another 
point, and detween the two, the river is contracted to the 
breadth of nearly three quarters of a mile ; but after 
passing through the strait, it expands to the breadth of 5 
or 6 mdes. The wide part of the river iinmediatt ly be¬ 
low the town is called “ The Bason,” and is sufficiently 
spacious to fl: at a hundred sail of the line. 

Quebec is ’divided into two parts ; the Upper Town, 
situated on a rock of limestone, on the top or the point, 
and the Lower Town, built round the bottom of the point 
close to the water, and at high tides nearly on a level 
with it. The rock whereon the Upper Town stands, in 
some places towards the water, rises nearly perpendicu¬ 
larly, so as to be totally inaccessible ; in otlier parts it is 
not so steep, but that there is a communication between 
the two towns. ^ 

The Upper Town is a place of immense strength. To¬ 
wards the water it is strongly guarded by nature, and on 
the laud side by stupendous foriifications. The houses 
are mostly of stone, but small, ugly, and inconvenient. 
The streets are irregular, uneven, narrow, and unpaved. 
The number of inhabitants in both towns, in 1818, was 
estimated at 15,257. The environs of Quebec present a 
most beautiful scenery. 

Montreal the ’second city of Canada, is ’situated on the 
east side of an island in the river St. Lawrence, 200 miles 
below lake Ontario, and 180 above Quebec. This is 
the head of ship navigation on the St. Lawrence. The 
number of inhabitants is about 20,000. The ’chief trade 
of this city is in furs. Tlie North West Company, so 
called, is composed mostly of Montreal merchants, who 
employ more than 1200 men in this trade. A great num¬ 
ber of canoes, formed of the bark of the birch tree, and 
loaded with coarse cloths, blankets, ammunition, and spir¬ 
ituous liquors, are sent off every spring up the river Uta- 
was, about 280 miles, thence across by land to lake Nip* 
issing into lake Huron and lake Superior, to the Grand 
portage, and from thence by a chain of small lakes and 
rivers to Fort Chepawyan^ the ’place of rendezvous, where 
the Indians of that country resort to barter their furs. 

Twin Rivieres^ or Three Rivers, is pleasantly situated 
about halt way between Quebec and Montreal. This 
town is a place of great resort for several Indian nations, 
who come here to dispose of their furs. Twm islands at 
the mouth of a small river which here empties into the 


'4 


A / 

c /i 




NEW-BRUNSWICK & NOVA-SCOTIA. 


171 


river St. Lawrence, produce the appearance of three riv¬ 
ers ; hence the name of the place. 

The ^most considerable towns in Upper Canada are 
York, the seat of government; Kingstoyi^ at the head of 
the St. Lawrence, in which the king’s shipping on lake 
Ontario winter ; Newark, Queenstown, Chippewa, situ¬ 
ated on Niagara river, the latter directly opposite the 
falls. These falls form one of the greatest natural curi¬ 
osities of this or any other country. 'Fhe earth is per¬ 
ceived to tremble for several rods round, and a heavy 
cloud of fog is constantly ascending, in which the rain¬ 
bow is always visible when the sun shines. 

Queenstown, sometimes called “ The Landing,” about 
7 miles below the falls, is the ^head of ship navigation. 
Fiom this place there is a portage of 9 miles to the near¬ 
est navigable part of Niagara river above the falls. 

Most of the inhabitants in Lower Canada are of French 
extraction, who retain, in a great measure, the manners 
and customs of their ancestors, and profess the Roman 
Catholic religion. They live, for the most part, in log 
houses, which being well and compactly built, and planed 
and white-washed on the outside, have an agreeable ap¬ 
pearance. 

Nearly all the settlements in Lower Canada are ^situ¬ 
ated close upon the rivers. For several leagues below 
Montreal the houses stand so closely together as to have 
the appearance of one continued village. 

In Upper Canada there are many emigrants from the 
United States. 

NEW-BRUNSWTCK and NOVA-SCOTIA. 

New-Bhunswick and Nova-Scotia, in most particu¬ 
lars, are very similar. The ^lace of the country is neith¬ 
er mountainous nor quite level. There are several riv¬ 
ers, among which those of Annapolis and St. JohrCs are 
the most considerable. The ®soil is in general thin and 
barren, particularly on the coasts. In some parts there 
are very extensive tracts of marsh, which are rich and 
productive. Both the soil and the climate are unfavoura¬ 
ble to the cultivation of grain, and the inhabitants do not 
raise provision suflicient for their own consumption. The 
fisheries, however, ^compensate in some measure for the 
sterility of the soil. The coast abounds with cod, salmon, 
mackerel, haddock, jyid heiting. Their ^chief exports, 


172 


NEWFOUNDLAND.... CAPE BRETON. 


are fish and lumber. CoaPis found in Nova-Scotia ; and 
plaister of Paris, particularly at >Vindsor, from whence 
iarf*e quantities are imported into the United States. 

The ^capital of Nova-Scotia is Halifax^ on Chebucto 
bay. The towm is commodiously situated for the fisiiery, 
and for a communication. >th by land and water, with 
the other parts of the province and with Nevv-Brunswick. 
It has a good harbour open at all times of the year, wlien 
almost all other harbours in these provinces are locked 
up with ice. A small squadron of ships of war is sta¬ 
tioned here. At the northern extremity of the town is 
the king’s navy-yard, well built, and amply supplied with 
. stores. Halifax is well situated for a seat of government, 
and contains abmit 15,000 inhabitants. 

Fredericksrowii, about 90 miles up St. John’s river, is 
the present ^seat of government in Nevv-Brunswick. 

' St, John’s is the ^largest town, at the n)duth of St. 
John’s river, and contains about 10,000 inhabitants. 

NEWFOUNDLAND. 

The island Newfoundland possesses a steril and bar¬ 
ren soil. 'riie interior has never yet been explored. 
The ^climate is cold, and the coasts extremely feubject to 
fogs, attended witii almost continual storms of snow and 
sleet The only ^vegetable pro<iuction of any importance 
is tii.iber, of which there is a great abundance. 

This island is ’chietly valuable for the gi eat cod fishery 
carried on upon the Banks of iS'ewfoundland. Great 
Britain anti the United Sjates, at tiie lowest computation, 
annually employ 3,000 sail of small craft in tins fisiiery,, 
on boaid of which, and on shore to cure and pack the 
fish, are upwards of i 00,000 hands. 

St. John’s, the capital, containing about 12,000 inhttb- 
itants, was nearly destroyed by tliree dreadful fires in 
1816 and 1817. Boston and New-Aork, in the severity 
of winter, sent the suffe rers ()rovisi()ns, w'liich were grate- 
lully received by the distressed inhabitants. 

CAPE BRETON. 

This island is about 100 miles in length, and separated 
from Nova-Scotia by a narrow strait, called the Gut of 
Canso. It is considered the key to Canada. Botli the 
soil and climate are unpropitious to the purposes of ag- 


pRiNce Edward’s isl. &c 


MEXICO. 


173 


riculture. The inhabitants are chiefly ’dependent on the 
fisheries for their support. The population is about 
3,000. Sydney is_the capital town. 

PRINCE EDWARD’S I-^LAND, FORMERLY GALLED 

ST. JOHN’S. 

This island is 110 miles long, and has a rich soil Char¬ 
lottetown, containing about 1,200 inhabitants, is the 
principal town. The whole number of inhabitants upon 
the island is estimated at about 5000. 

BERMUDAS. 

The Bermudas, or Sorner’s Islands, as they are some¬ 
times called, are four in number, besides numerous small¬ 
er ones uninhabited. They’lie oft’against the Southern 
States^ about 600 miles from the Carolirja shore. The 
’houses are built of a soft porous stone, which being fre¬ 
quently white-washed to resist the rain, exhibit the most 
beautiful contrast with the greenness of the cedars and 
pastures. The Bermudians are mostly sea faring people, 
and fevv of the men are ever at home. However indus¬ 
trious they may be abroad, at home they are indolent, 
and greatly adclicted to luxury and gaming. The women 
are generally handsome, aflfectionate to their husbands 
and children, and fond of dress. Population,about 10,000.* 

* MEXICO, OR NEW SPAIN. 

In 1521, Mexico was subdued by the Spaniards, under 
Cortes. It continued a province of Spain till 1821, when 
it declared itself independent. This immense territory 
is ’situated* between 16° and 42° north latitude, and ex- 
tetids from the Gulf of Mexico and the United plates on 
the east, to the Pacific Ocean on the west. 

The ’lands on both coasts are low. Thence there is a 
gradual ascent till the country attains an elevation of 6 or 
8000 feet above the level of the ocean, when it spreads 
out into a broad extended plain called Table Land. Thus 
the city Mexico is on a plain or table land ; but this 
plain or table land has a greater elevation above the level 
of the ocean than most of our mountains ; and in fact it 
is considered as a vast mountainous ran^e like the Allegha<» 
ny mountains in the United States, and is called the Cor¬ 
dillera 01 Andes in Mexico, with this difference, that the 
tops of the Alleghany mountains consist of steep, narrotv 




MEXICO, OR NEW SPAIN. 


iT4 

ridjjes, with vallies between them, whereas the top of the 
Cordillera is a broad plain, and the best iidnibited part 
ot the country. .On this plain, mountains occasionally 
rise, whose tops are covered with perpetual snow. 

In so extensive a country as that of Mexico, one half 
of which is in the torrid and the other in the temperate 
zone, there must necessarily be a great diversity of soil 
and climate. In the tropical regions the year is divided 
into only two seasons, called the rainy and the dry^ The 
rainy season commences in June or July, and continues 
about four months, till September or October, when the 
dry season commences and continues about eight months. 
On the low lands upon the coast, the ^climate is hot and 
unheahhy. On the declivity of the Cordillera at the 
elevation of 4 or 5000 feet, there reigns perpetually a 
soft spring temperatuje, which never varies more than 8 
or 9 tlegrees. At the elevation of 7000 feet, commences 
another region, the ^mean temj)erature of which is about 
60.° Mexico is in this region, and the thermometer there 
has been known in a few instances to descend below the 
fr- eziiig point. It never rises aoove 75°. 

'I'he ^soil of the table land is 'remarkably productive. 

It is however exposed to droughts in the spring. Maize 
is the ’most important object of culture. In the most 
warm and humid regions it will yield two crops in a year. 
Jn the different elev:ttions ot this country may be found 
a climate suited to almost^evfnv production either in tlie 
torrid or temperate zone i'iie shores of the bays of ’ 
Honduras and Cam peachy have been long ’celebrated 
for their immense forests of logwood and mahogany. A 
great commerce is earned on in these articles; likewise 
in cocoa and cochineal, which are also ’products of this 
country. Here likewise grow those trees which produce 
the balsams copaiva and tola. But what ’most distin¬ 
guishes this country are its immensely valuable mines of 
gold, silver, and precious stones. 

Mexico^ the’capital, is undoubtedly' the most expensive, 
populous, and opulent city of the New World. It is ’situ¬ 
ated on the banks of a lake, and llie houses are alt ’built 
upon piles. The streets are very wide, perfectly 
straight, and intersect each other at right angles. Tlie 
most sumptuous buddings are the churches, chapels, and 
convents. The catliedral, especially, i» ’remarkaoie for 
its splendid and costly decorarivuis. The railing round 
the filar is solid silver ; there is also a silver lamp so 
capacious, that thifee men gei into the inside to clean it. 


GUATIMALA.... GREENLAND. 


175 


Tiri« city is the, ab'de of'all the most opulent merchants, 
anj the centre of the counnerce carried <*ri with Europ-*, 
through the ’ports of Vera Cruz and t Jcapiffco It con¬ 
tains a university, couposed ot loO «loctors in all the 
faculties. The population ts about <40,000. 'There isa 
road, 1549 miles long, frmn Mevico to New-Orleans. 

Vera Cruz and Acapulco^ the former on the coast of 
the Mexican gulf, and ihe latter on that ot the Pacific 
ocean, are the ’two ports to the city Mexico, through 
which the trade of the capital is carried on with Spaia 
and the Philippine islands. 

Santa Fe is remarkable as being the most northern set¬ 
tlement of any note in Spanish Vmerica. Population 3600. 

The inhabitants are distinguished into six ’classes* or 
casts ; 1. The VVhi'es ; 2 The Indians ; 3. The Ne¬ 
groes ; 4. The Mestizoes, or ilescendants of Whites and 
Indians^ 5 'The Mulatfoe*^, or descendants of Whites 
and Negroes ; 6. The Samboes, or descendants of In¬ 
dians and Negroes. 

' 'The Whites are again subdivided into two ’cla'->sec ; 
1. Europeans, or such as vvere born in P^urope, and emi¬ 
grate into America ; 'i, Cieoles or Whiles of KI iropean 
extraction, but born in America. 'Phe religion rs Ro¬ 
man Calholick. 


GUA TIM ALA. 

Guatiinala, now independent, extends from Mexico 
nearly to the Isthmus of Garien. and i-> ilivide»l into ^ix 
provinces, viz (diiapa, Vera Paz. Giiatima'a, II nduias, 
Nicaragua, and Costa Rica 'This couutiy is divided oy 
the bay of (loiuluias. into two peninsulas. Its -oil ir, gen¬ 
erally good, and its productions are gram, gr.ipes, honey, 
cotton, wool, dye-woods, &c. li’’ population, principal¬ 
ly Indians, is about 1,800,!>()(). Guanmala t!ic capital, 
near the Pacific ocean, ha> a good harbour, contains a 
university, and has about oO.OOO inhaoitants. 

GREENLAW). 

Greenland, belonging to Denmark, is the farthest 
north, anil one of the coUle>t countries in the world. 
PAcept in the low' lantU an I vallie- near the sea, it is 
nearly destitute ttf trees, and genei ally of vegeta ion. be¬ 
ing in most parts co'ered with eternal snow . vv lich nev¬ 
er midt, ev» n in summer. I he seas about Greenland 
are fillml with immense tpiantilies of ice, w hicn are said 
to reinuiii even for ages uudissolved. Huge pieces arc 




176 


WKST-INDIES. 


often seen floating in these seas, not only as big as the 
largest houses, but which even resemble small mountains. 
These are sometimes dashed against each other by the 
force of the winds and waves, with such violence as to 
crush the strongest ships to pieces when caught amongst 
them, and with a noise that exceeds the report of a can¬ 
non. White bears of an enormous size are sometimes 
seen floating upon these pieces of ice. 

This inhospitable country, notwithstanding, is said to 
be inhabited as far north as 76°. In some of the more 
southern parts the ground becomes so thawed in June and 
July as to yield sosne herb^ and a little grass. The in¬ 
habitants, however, are obliged to ^depend for their sub¬ 
sistence wholly upon hunting and fishing. They are of 
short stature, with long black hair, small eyes and flat 
faces. They seem to be a branch of the American Es¬ 
quimaux, and greatly resemble the Laplanders and Sam- 
oides of Europe. In lat. 64° and 68° are two Danish 
settlements, named Good Hope and Disco. The Mora¬ 
vians have missionaries at New-Hernnhut, Lichtenfels, 
and Lichtenau. 

The seas about Greenland ^afford a peculiar species of 
animal, called the seal, 9 or 10 feet in length, with two 
small feet before, on which he is able to walk a little upon 
the shore. This animal is the constant prey of the Green¬ 
lander, and furnishes him with almost every thing he 
wants. The flesh he eats : with the oil he feeds his latnp: 
the skin serves him for clothes, or is used to line the in¬ 
side ot his tent. 

A considerable whale fishery is carried on in the seas 
adjacent to Greenland, principally by the British and the 
Dutch. 


WEST-XNDXES. 

There is so great a similarity in the situation, climate, 
product and commerce ot these islands, that some gene¬ 
ral observations are appli-able to them all. 

^Clima^e. Situated under a vertical sun, the heat on 
these islands would be ahnost insupportable, but for the 
sea and land breezes, which blow regularly every day and 
night, almtisT the whole year. The sea breeze, or trade 
wind, ’sets in from the sea towards the land about 10 
o'clock in the morning, and blow's till night, when the 
land breeze ^commences from tin* centre of the island, 
and blows t(» every point of tr.e compass till morning. 
The chief ^distinciioa of seasons in these hot countries 



WEST-INDIES. 


i < 4 

is into DRY and rainy ; sni w and frost are entirely un¬ 
known. The rainy seasons ace two. the sprin^i; and the 
autuninal. 'I'lie spring periodical rains’cointnence about 
the middle of May, and commonly fall every day about 
noon attended with tliunder, and break up towards even¬ 
ing;, creating a bright and beautiful verdure, and a rapid 
and luxuriant vegetation. 

After these rains have continued about a fortnight, the 
weather becomes dry, settled and salutary ; not a cloud 
is to be perceived, and the sky blazes with irresistible 
fierceness. At this season, before the setting in of the 
sea breeze, at about 10 o*ch*ck in the morning, the heat 
is scarcely supportable ^ but no sooner is the influeuce 
felt of this refreshitig svind, than all nature revives, and 
the climate in the shade not only become’' very tolerable, 
but pleasant. rhis weather contin tes till about the mid¬ 
dle of August, when the diurnal breeze begins to remit, 
and the atmosphere becomes .-^ultry, iticouimodious and 
sutVocaliiig. ' Towards the last of suinmei’, large towering 
clouds, tleecy and of a reddish hue, are seen in the morn¬ 
ing in the south and south-east 'The tops of the moun¬ 
tains at the same lime appear free from clouds, wear a 
bluish cast, and seem nearer than usual. In the bf<rin- 
rung of autumn, when these vast accumulations of vapours 
have risen to a certain height, they commonly move hor¬ 
izontally towards the mountains, proclaiming their pro¬ 
gress in deep and loHing thunder, wliich is answered by 
the ilistant but loud roar of the ocean. These are pre¬ 
ludes to the second periodical or autumnal rains, which 
^commence in Septemher or the beginning of October, 
and descend with such impetuosity, that they resemble 
more the pouring of water out of buckets, than rain. It 
is now that hurricanes, those dreadful vi-itations of Proy- 
idence, are apprehended. They are furious storms of 
wind, attended with the most violent rain, thunder and 
lightning, sometimes with an enormous swelling of tlie 
sea, and not unfreijuently w'ith an earthquake. The vio¬ 
lence of the blast is sucli that nothing can resist its force. 
The largest trees are torn up by the roots, the sugar 
canes are scattered through the air, houses are blown 
down, the boilers and stills of many liuiulred weiglit are 
removerl from Iheir [daces and dashed ro pieces. 

In December the atmosphere becomes clear, the 
w’oathei pleasant and serene, and t!ie temperature cool 
and liel.glitful. fhi'' sea'em lasts till May, and is to the 
sick atid the aged, the climate of paiadise. In the sum' 


WEST-INDIES. 


178 

mer and fall months, malignant fevers are prevalent, 
whicli often prove fatal to fnreigners? 

Productions, Sugar, produced from the sugarcane, is 
the ’capital article of exportation from these islands, to 
which molasses and rum are appendages. The sugar¬ 
cane is a jointed reed, usuall y from to seven feet in 
’length, and from half an inch to an inch in diameter, 
containing a soft pithy substance which attbrds a copious 
supply of juice, of a sweetness the least cloying in nature. 

The plant is propagated by cuttings, usually selected 
from the tops of the canes th.at have been ground for su¬ 
gar- These are placed in holes and covered with mould 
about two inches deep. 'I'he canes, when grown, are 
ground, and the expressed juice being boiled down to a 
thick syrup, is laded into proper vessels, where, as it 
cools, it runs into sugar. Molasses are the refuse or 
drainings of the sugar, from which, with the addition of 
the skimmingsof the hot juice, and the lees of former dis¬ 
tillations, Rum is distilled. Ok plantation of 300 acres of 
sugar-cane is allowed to ’produce on an average, 200 
hogsheads of sugar, and ISO puncheons of rum, of 110 
gallons each, annually. 

The ’labour is performed by negro slaves, who are 
subsisted on the plantations at a very easy rate. Their 
’allowance from some masters is only a certain portion of 
land, which they suffer them to cultivate for their subsist¬ 
ence, on Saturday and Sunday ; others are allowed a cer¬ 
tain portion of Indian corn, a salt herring, or a small por¬ 
tion of salt pork a day. They have over them an over¬ 
seer, a driver, and commonly a physician to attend upon 
the sick. The negroes constitute much the greater pro¬ 
portion of inhabitants on most of the West-India islands. 

I'he’other principal productionsof the West-Indies, are 
cotton, indigo, coffee, cocoa, ginger, pimento or allspice, 
arnotto, aloes, cloves, cinnamon, bees-wax and honey. 

’Coffee is the fruit of a small tree, planted out in 
squares of about 8 feet, producing from 1 to 3 or 4 pounds 
each tree, and from 3 to 700 weight per acre. 

’Cocoa, or the chocolate nut, is also the fruit of a small 
but very tender tree, which begins to bear the fifth year 
after it is planted, and yields two crops of fruit in a year, 
The cocoa tree delights in water, and the ground where 
it is planted must be reduced to a mire, and carefully sup¬ 
plied with water, otherwise it will die. It must also be 
planted in the shade, or defended from the perpendicu¬ 
lar rays of the sun. 


WESr-INDlES. 


179 


^Ginger is a root planted like the potato, and dug once 
a year. 

r Arnotto is ’derived from a shrub 7 or 8 feet high, bear¬ 
ing oblong hairy pods, which contain the seeds, envelop¬ 
ed in a pulp of a bright red colour. 

’Aloes are the product of a small plant, propagated by 
suckers. A strong decoction is made, which is boiled to 
the consistency of honey, and then suffered to harden. 

’Pimento, or Allspice, is the fruit of a tree which grows 
spontaneously in Jamaica, where it forins the most deli¬ 
cious groves. A single tree has been known to ’yield 100 
pounds of the spice. The berries are gathered by the 
hand while green, and exposed to the sun about 7 days^ 
when they become of a reddish brown. 

To this general account will now be added a few par¬ 
ticulars concerning some of the most considerable of the 
West-India islands. 

CUBA. 

« 

Cuba is the ’largest of the VVest-India islands. It is 
about 700 miles in length, and is celebrated for the supe¬ 
rior flavour of its tobacco. Ebony and mahogany are 
among its trees. The forests abound with wild cattle, 
which are hunted for their hides and tallow. Some gold 
is found in the sand of its streams ; but its most valuable 
’mineral product is copper of an excellent quality, with 
which, in the form of utensils, it supplies the other Span¬ 
ish colonies. Its population in 1804 was 234,000 whites, 
90,000 free blacks, and 108,000 slaves. Its whole popu¬ 
lation is now about 600,000. 

Its ’capital, the Huvanna^ is a place of great note and 
importance, on account of its harbour, and is the usual, 
station of the principal maritime force of Spanish Ameri¬ 
ca, and the place of rendezvous for the ships laded with 
the wealth of all the settlements on their homeward voy¬ 
age. The city is strongly fortified and well built. It 
contains about 70,000 inhabitants, and carries on a great 
trade with foreign countries. 

HISPANIOLA, OR ST. DOMINGO. 

This is the ’next in size and one of the most fertile of 
all the West-lndia iT,lands. it was the first settlement of 
the Spaniards in tlie new world. Its forests’abound with 
wild cattle, which, as on the island of Cuba, are hunted 
for their hides. Population about 650,000. 


180 


WEST-INDIES. 


So lately as the year 1790, tiiis island was divided be¬ 
tween France and Spain. 'Fhe year following an alarm¬ 
ing insurrection of the negroes broke out in the French 
colony, which deluged half of the northern provinces in 
blood. In 1793 about 3,000 negro slaves, supported by 
the mulattoes,entered Cape Francois,the capital city,and 
perpe rated an universal massacre of the white men, wo¬ 
men and children. After various attempts at subjugation 
on the part of France, all of which proved unsuccessful, 
the blacks at length succeeded in expelling their masters 
the French, and have established an independent govern¬ 
ment under the administration of Boyer, who is styled, 
President of Hayti, a name they have given to the island. 

JAMAICA 

Is the ^chief of the British West India islands. It is 
higlily cultivated, but in ^natural fertility, is far inferior 
to Cuba and St Domingo. Its population in 1811 was 
390,Out), cf whom only 40,000 \Aere whites. 

The ^principal commercial town is a sea-port 

on the southern coast. It is opiileni and populous, and 
the merchants live in a style of great splendour, St. Jago 
or Spanish town, is the ’seat ol governmeni Port-Royal, 
situated on a fine bay, was accounted the best harbour ; 
but has been reduced by repeated earthquakes, and other 
calamities. It still contains the royal navy-yard, arse¬ 
nal, and barracks. 

PORTO RICO 

Is the ’next of the larger islands, and ’belongs to Spain. 
It is reckoned a fertile and beautiful country, but is only 
partially cultivated, 'riiere are a few sugar plantations 
here, and the propoition of slaves is less thun that of free¬ 
men, which is the reverse of what prevails in most of the 
other islands. Population 130,000. Si. Juan, its capital, 
on the north side of the island, contains about 30,0u0. 

THE CARIBBEE ISLANDS 

Is the general appellation of that group or range, which 
stretches in a curve hue Irotn Poi fo-Rico to the :oasr of 
South America. Most of these islands are nearlv pla n in 
their suiiace ; ^ou!e of liiem labour under a total want of 
springs td fresli water. i’ney are. however, extremely 
fertile, and ’yield abundantly the usual products of the 


WEST-INDIES.... SOUTH-AMERTC A. 


181 


tropical regions. Of the whole group, Gaudaloupe and 
Barbadoes are the ’most important. Martinico is also a 
valuable island. Dominica contains several volcanoes. 
These islands are particularly ’subject to hurricanes, 
more so than the larger West-lndia Islands. 

THE BAHAMA ISLANDS, 

Called by the Spaniards, Lucayas, ’comprehend in gen¬ 
eral all the islands north of Cuba and St. Domingo. They 
are very numerous, but being narrow strips of land, and 
mostly barren, few of them are inhabited. Their princi¬ 
pal ’products are cotton, salt, turtle, oranges, pine-apples 
and dyeing-woods. Several vessels, called wreckers, 
frequent these islands, attracted by the numerous wrecks, 
of trading ships ip their passage along the channels be¬ 
tween the Bahamas and the coast of Florida on one side, 
and that of Cuba on the other. 

TURK’S ISLANDS, 

’Situated directly north from St. Domingo, are ’celebrat¬ 
ed for the production of salt obtained from salt ponds, 
which on these islands are very numerous. Early in the 
year the salt in these ponds crystallizes, and subsides in 
solid cakes to the bottom, from whence it is raked out, 
and exported in large quantities to the United States. 


SOUTK-AMCRZCA- 

In a description of South-Ainerica, our attention is first 
most naturally led to a consideration of its mountains. 
These are the famous Andes, intermingled with volca¬ 
noes of the most sublime and terrific description. They 
follow the direction of the western coast, at the distance 
of about 100 ’miles, and extend from the strait of Magel¬ 
lan, to the isthmus of Darien. Chimborazo^ the’mo^t el¬ 
evated summit in tl)is range, and one of the hi^:hest moun¬ 
tains in the world, is about 100 miles south of Quito. Its 
height has been estimated at 21,440 ’feet, nearly four 
miles above the level of the ocean. No human being 
has ever yet ascended to its top. The region of perpet¬ 
ual snow ’begins at about 2,400 feet from its summit. 

Q 



182 


SOUTH-AMERieA. 


The ®next in elevation is supposed to be Cotopaxi^ a tre- 
inenfluus volcano, wliich is said to eject stones ofeightor 
niite feet in diameter, to the distance of some miles. Its 
height is 18,890 feet. It is however to be observed, 
that these summits rise from the high plain of Quito, 
which is itself of far greater elevation than the Alleghany 
mountains. The Andes here form a double chain, which 
extends about 500 miles. It is between this double ridge 
the high plain of Quito is ^situated.'- 

There are many other summits between three and four 
miles high, but ihat called l ichinca^ whose top is exactly 
three miles above the surface of the sea, is the most re¬ 
markable, on account of its having been the residence of 
the French ii'athematicians for some time in order to 
measure a degree of longitude. Though this mountain 
is situated almost directly under the equator, they found 
the cold excessively severe, the wind at the same time 
being so violent, that tliey were in danger of being blown 
down the precipices. T hey were also frequently involv¬ 
ed in such a thick fog, that they could not distinguish ob¬ 
jects at the distance of six or eiglit paces. When the fog 
cleared up, the clouds descended towards the earth, and 
surrounded the rnoun.ain in sucli a manner as to represent 
the sea, with the rock on which they were situated, like 
an island in the centie of it. Whoii this happened they 
heard the horrid noise^ of the tempests, which then dis- 
char^>ed themsehes on Qvito and the neighbuuring coun¬ 
try. They saw the lightnings issuing from the chmds, 
atiil heat (I the thunder rolling far beneath tlieir feet. 

But wliat ’iiiost attracts attention in these mountains, is 
the mineral treasures contained in their bowels. The in¬ 
calculable tithes ill gold and silver, wbicli they produce 
surpass the conception ol the most insatiobie cupidity. 
The celebrated mountain of I otosi, in Pei u. is particu- 
larl> ^famous as coinairiing one of the richest silver mines 
]n the world, 'i'his mountain, which rises in a conical 
form, is about 20 miles in tircuniference. It is pertora- 
ted by mote than oOOshalis. its surface presents neither 
trees nor lierbage, all vegetation being blasted by the nu¬ 
merous furnaces. Tliis celebiated mine was accidentally 
’discovered in 1545, by one of the natives, who, in pursu¬ 
ing a chamois pulled op a bush on the side of the moun¬ 
tain, when, to his astonishment, the breach made in the 
surface, laid open this immense vein of silver, the rich- 
ost that the world had ever afforded. 


SOUTH-AMERICA. 


183 


The rivers in South America are on a scale no less 
grand than its mountains. 'Fhe is justly consid¬ 

ered the ’largest river in the world. It is 3300 miles in 
length, and of very great depth ; but what most distin¬ 
guishes this river, is the sea-like expanse "with which it 
meets the ocean, it being of the astonishing’width of 150 
miles at its mouth. The streams, whicli, uniting, ct)nsti- 
tute this mighty river, descend with amazing impetuosity 
from the eastern declivity ot the Andes. Its waters are 
muddy, denoting the richness of the tract through which 
it flows. In the rainy sea'mn it overflows its banks. The 
tides are perceptible at 600 miles from its mouth. 

' The Rio de la Platd^^'^r river of silver, is, in magni¬ 
tude and extent ,of course, the ’second river in South A- 
merica. It is chiefly composed of two great streams, the 
Paraguay and Parana. 'Fhe brearlth of the estuarv is 
suchj.tliat a ship in <he middle of it cannot be seen from, 
the land. Vessels of burden can navigate up the Para¬ 
guay to Asaumpfion^ whicii is !‘200 riiles from rhe sea. 
Tlie channel ot La Plata is so ohstrucied by shoals, th.it 
the ’navigation is vet'y difflcult and danijerous. 

The ’third great river of South America is rhe Orin >co, 
There is one striking peculiarity observable in egard to 
this river, which is, that by means of the lake Parima, it 
has tliree communications with tire Amazon ; a noble pro¬ 
vision for extensive inland navigation,if this country slmuld 
ever be fully settled by a civilized and active perrple. 

The whole interior of South America, comprising all 
the countries watered by these noble and majestic i ivi>rs, 
is an immense plain, of which many extensive districts 
are annually inundated by their i-edundant waters. 

Among the animals peculiar to South America, the 
’most extraoi’dinary is the Sloth, or as it is called by way 
of derision, the Swift Petre. It is about the size of an 
ordlnat'y monkey, but of a most wretched appearance. 
It never stii's unless impelled by hunger ; it is said to be 
several minutes in moving one of its legs.' Every eilbrt 
is attended with a most dismal cry. When this animal 
finds no wild fruits on the ground, he looks out with a 
great deal of pain for a tree well loaded, which he ascends 
with great uneasiness, moving and crying, and stopping by 
turns. At length, having mounted, he plucks olf all the 
fruit and throws it on the ground, to save himself such 
another troublesome journey ; and rather than be fatigued 
in coming down tlie tree, gathers himself in a bunch, and 
with a shriek drops to the ground. 


184 


SOUTH-AMERICA. 


Monkies are very numerous in South America. They 
herd together, 20 or SO in company, rambling through 
the woods, leaping from tree to tree, and if they meet 
with a single person will sometimes attack him ; they 
suspend themselves by the tail on the boughs, and seem 
to threaten him all the way as he passes 5 but when two 
or three persons are together, they usually run off at 
their approach. 

The ^animals, which produce the wool of this country, 
are to be met with no where else. They are of two kinds, 
the Llama, and the Vicuna, sometimes called Peruvian 
SHEEP, being most frequently met m ith in that part of 
South America. The Llama, in several particulars, ’re¬ 
sembles a camel, as in the shape of its neck, head, and 
some other parts; but it is smaller, has no bunch, and is 
cloven footed. Its upper lip is cleft like that of a hare, 
through which, when enraged, it spits a venomous juice 
that inflames the part on which it falls. It is about the 
size of a stag, is used as a beast of burden, being very 
swift, and is capable of bearing vast fatigue. The V icuna 
is much smaller than the Llama, and produces finer wool. 

The Jaguar, called the American Tyger, is the ^niost 
ferocious, dreaded animal in South America, and attains a 
great size. The Puma, by some called the American Lion, 
is a much inferior animal, and rarely attacks mankind. 

Among the feathered tribes, the Condor, a species of 
vulture, is the ’most celebrated, and is undoubtedly the 
largest bird that pervades the air. Its size is so enor¬ 
mous, that the wings when extended, measure nine, 
twelve, or even sixteen feet from tip to tip. The body 
is of a black colour, with a white back ,* the neck is sur¬ 
rounded with a fringe of longish white feathers 5 the 
head is clothed with brown down or wool. The Condor 
builds its nest on the highest mountains, under the shel¬ 
ter of some projecting rock, in which the female lays two 
white eggs. It ’preys on calves, sheep, goats, and such 
animals, and when very much pressed by hunger, it has 
been known to carry off children of ten years of age. 

The Ostrich is likewise an inhabitant of South Ameri¬ 
ca. It is equal in ’height to a man, its neck being about 
two feet eight inches in length, and its legs as long as its 
neck. 

In Surinam river, in Guiana, is’found that remarkable 
fish called the Gymnotus Electricus, or Electric Eel, 
who gives a strong electric shock to any person who 


REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA. 


1&5 


touches it in a certain manner with both hands. The 
gyomotus grows to a very large size ; some are said w 
be 22 feet in length, the shock of which would instantly 
kill a man. 

REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA. 

i 

Face of the Country, The ’northern and western parts 
are mountainous. ! The ’country watered by the Orinoco 
and its branches is low and flat; and is annually inundat¬ 
ed in many parts,‘by the overflowing of the rivers. 

Climate. The only ’distinction of seasons here, is into 
the dry and the rainy ; the former cal led summer, and the 
latter, winter. Dreadful tempests of thunder and lightning 
are not unfrequent in the rainy seasons. The low country 
is hot and unhealthy. Among the mountains may be found 
every variety of climate in the world. Their tops, al¬ 
though under a vertical sun, are covered with perpetual 
snow. In descending, one meets successively with spring, 
summer, and autumn. The plains near them are temper¬ 
ate and delightful. At Quito the inhabitants are never 
obliged to make any difterence in the warmth of their 
dress on account of the seasons. 

Soil and Productions. The ’soil is remarkably fertile, 
’producing in abundance cocoa, indigo, cotton, cotfee, 
sugar, and tobacco •, likewise the olive, almond, Seville 
and China oranges, in great perfection. The pine apple 
also grows here. It is the fruit of a plant about three feet 
in height. The flower is at the top formed like a lily, 
and of so elegant a crimson as to dazzle the eye. Here 
also are tamarinds, and the banana, which makes a good 
substitute for bread. The tropical trees are full of blos¬ 
soms and fruit all the year. 

. The plains of the Orinoc$ furnish immense pastures, 
^ and numberless herds of cattle are dispersed over their 
whole extent. Brazil wood and fustic are ’common in 
the forests : likewise the quinquina which yields the 
Peruvian bark, eb»ny and guaiacum. 

The wood abounds with monkies. AVild boars, tigers, 
leopards, and deer, are commori in the forests. Alligators 
infest the rivers, and venomous serpents the land. The 
Nioua is a most troublc.^oine insect, which inserts itself 
through the skin into the flesh, and unless speedily re¬ 
moved, lays numerous eggs, which in a few days become 
young niguas, and spread in the flesh, and are very 
troublesome. 

Q2 


REPUBLIC OF COLOMBIA. 


lob 

"^Minerals. Gold, silver, copper, and lead mines are 
fou . ' in vaiious parts of tlie country. Platina, a very 
, ble metal, is found at Choco. The emerald mines 
at Muzo, 50 miles north of Santa Fe, are the mostcele- 
bratfd in the world. 

dries. Santa /Ws beautifully situated on a spacious 
plain. The streets are regular, and the houses generally 
handsome. This city formerly contained 30,000 inhabi¬ 
tants, but is jiow reduced to a small settlement. 

Quito, the most ^populous town, is situated on a plain of 
remarkable elevation, between two branches of the Andes. 
The houses are all one story, on account of the earth¬ 
quakes, and built of unbaked brick. The population is 
about 65,000 of whom only a sixth part are whites. 

Carthagena, ’situated on an island joined to the conti¬ 
nent by two artificial necks of land, contains 20,000 in¬ 
habitants. The houses are mostly built of stone, with 
balconies of wood. This place has severely suffered by 
tiie conflicts between the Royalists and Independents. 

Panama is situated on a bay of the same name. In the 
harbour is a fine pearl fishery. Porto Bello has been a 
place of considerable note, but at present is on a decline. 

Caraccas is ’situated on a plain, at an elevation of 2,593 
feet above the level of the ocean. It is several leagues 
from the sea, from which it is separated by mountains, and 
rendered dijfiicult of access. The houses generally are 
well built and richly furnished. Some of the publick 
buildings are elegant. The population is estimated at 
40,000—twelve thousand of whom were destroyed by 
an earthquake, in 1812. Beggars throng the streets. 
Thefts, and even assassinations, are not unfrequent. The 
climate here is delightful, owing to the elevation of the 
place. La Guira, the ’port of Caraccas, 7 miles distant, 
IS more frequented than any other on the coast. 

Cumana is tlie most ancient cit^', and is ’celebrated for 
the industry and enterprize of its inhabitants. The pop¬ 
ulation is estimated at 24,000. Maracaibo contains about 
the same number, of whom 5,000 are slaves, 5000 are 
freed persons, and the rest are whites. The only water 
to be had here, is that of the lake. 

St. '^Kinias, the capital of Spanish Guiana, situated on 
the Orinoco, is the ’seat of government. 

There are many tribes of Indians in this country still 
unsubdued. Such as have been conquered are treated 
by the vSpaniards with great lenity and kindness. They 
live in villages, and are governed by their own caciques^’ 


PERU. 


187 


PERU. 

The western ridge of the Andes penetrates this couri** 
try its whole extent, and divides it into two different cli¬ 
mates. That part situated between the mountains and 
the Pacific ocean, is a sandy plain. Neither rain, thun¬ 
der, or lightning, is ever known here. A thick fog, 
however, in the winter, covers the country, which, dis¬ 
solving into small mist or dew, moistens the earth and 
renders it fertile. 

East of the western ridge of the Andes, and between 
that and the eastern ridge lies a high valley^ or elevated 
Table Land, generally from 8 to 10,000 feet above the 
level of the ocean, which enjoys a perpetual spring at a 
temperature of about 65 or 66 degrees of Farenneit, with 
scarcely any variation throughout the year. Its width 
is from 100 to 150 miles. The fields are perpetually 
verdant.' All the grains, wheat in particular, wave in 
golden harvests •, and the fruits of Europe blush amidst 
those of the torrid zone. 

The tree which affords the Peruvian bark is a native 
of this country. It is about the size of a cherry tree, and 
bears a fruit resembling the almond. The most remark¬ 
able animals are the Llama and the Vicuna. 

There are several gold mines in Peru ; but those of 
silver are found all over the country. The treasure de¬ 
rived annually from these mines is immense. 

Peru is the only part of South America that produces 
quicksilver, so necessary in extracting gold from its ore. 
In this point of view, Peru has the advantage over Mexi¬ 
co, which imports its quicksilver from Spain. The ’prin¬ 
cipal mine is at a place called Guancavelica, discovered in 
1567, where it is found in a whitish mass, resembling 
brick illy burnt. This substance is volatilized by fire, and 
receiveil in vapour by a combination of glass vessels, 
where by means of water it is condensed at the bottom 
of each vessel, and forms a pure heavy liquid. 

Lima is the ’capital, not only of Peru, but of all South 
America. It is ’situated in the midst of a spacious valley, 
about six miles from the sea, surrounded with brick vvalls, 
with ramparts and bastions, and is excellently \vatered 
by the river Rimac. The number of inhabitants in 1790, 
was estimated at 52,627. The streets are handsome and 
straight, but the houses are generally only one story high 
on account of the earthquakes. There are, however^ 


188 


PERU.-^ 


many magnificent structures, particularly churches, ill 
this city, and all travellers mention with admiration their 
excessively rich decorations within, even the walls being 
ornamented with a profusion of gold, silver, and precious 
stones. An instance of the vast wealth of the inhabitants 
was given in 1682 , when the streets through which the 
Viceroy made his public entry into the city, were paved 
with ingots of silver. Lima carries on a very extensive 
commerce. 

Callao serves as a^port to Lima, about 5 miles distant, 
near the Pacific ocean. Its harbour is the largest, most 
beautiful, most convenient, and most secure, upon the 
western coast. In 1747, this port was completely over¬ 
whelmed by a most terrible earthquake. In this instance, 
as is usual in the case of earthquakes, the sea first retiring 
a great way from the shore, suddenly returned and buri¬ 
ed the whole town under water. Out of nearly 4000 in¬ 
habitants, only 200 escaped 5 of 23 vessels which were 
in the harbour, 19 were suddenly sunk, and the other 4 
were carried by the force of the waters a great distance 
up the country. Nothing of the town was left standing, 
except a piece of the wall of the fort. This port has since 
be^n rebuilt a little further back from the sea. 

Arequipa is the ^second city of Peru in point of popula¬ 
tion. The number of inhabitants is estimated at 24,000. 
Near it is a dreadful volcano. It has been 4 times laid 
in ruins by earthquakes. Triixillo contains a population 
of 6 , 000 . Guamanga is handsomely situated in a wide 
and extensive plain. Its buildings are of stone, and are 
thought to be superior to any in Peru. 

Cusco h the most ancient city in Peru, ^founded by the 
first Inca for the seat of his empire. On a conti^nnms 
mountain was a fortress, built by the Incas for theTr de¬ 
fence. This mountain they had begun to enclose by a 
wall of most prodigious strength. The palaces of the In¬ 
cas were spacious and magnificent, built of stone, the 
seams of which were closed up with melted gold. Most 
of the apartments were decorated with the figures of meti*, 
animals, plants, and flowers, all of cast gold. The In¬ 
cas set on a stool of gold. The waters of the palace 
were from cisterns of gold j even the utensils of the kitch¬ 
en were all gold. The magnificence of the palaces, 
however, was far inferior to that of the Temple of the 
Sun, which was the utmost display of eartiily grandeur. 
It was of free-stone, lined with gold. In the principal 


CHILI. 


189 


apartment was the ima^ie of the sun, consisting of a gold 
plate, which covered the whole breadth of the chapel. 
On each side were the embalmed bodies of the Incas on 
thrones of gold. The gates of the temple were covered 
with ^Id, and round the top was a cornice of gold, three 
feet deep. Its population is about 30,000. 

Such was this splendid capital at the time of the inva¬ 
sion of this country by the Spaniards under Pizarro, who 
overturned the Peruvian monarchy. "I'he city was al¬ 
most wholly demolished by the Spaniards in their eager 
search after gold, silver, and hidden treasures. 

CHILL 

The ’climate of Chili is most delicious.N Though bor- 
de>ing on the torrid zone, it never feels extreme heat, 
being screened on the east by the Andes, and refreshed 
on the west by cooling breezes from the sea. The order 
of the seasons here is inverted from what it is in the 
United States. Spring begins in September, summer in 
December, autumn in March, and winter in June. From 
the beginning of spring to the middle of autumn, the sky 
is always serene, chiefly between 24 and 36 degrees of 
latitude ^ showers seldom fall during that per'od. The 
rains begin about the middle of April, and continue till 
the end of August. Thunder is scarcely known, except 
on the Andes. Snow does not fall in the maritime prov¬ 
inces ; but on the mountains, from April to November, 
it is perpetual. 

The fertility of the soil corresponds with the benignity 
of the climate, and is wonderfully accommodated to Eu¬ 
ropean productions. The most ’valuable of these are 
corn, wine, and oil. The ’northern provinces produce 
the sugar-cane, the sweet potato, and other tropical plants. 
Maize is common and abundant. The larj^e white straw¬ 
berry of Chili is now know n in English gartlens. Many of 
the plants are valuable as dves, and otTiers as medicines. 
The gentian is peculiar to dhili. The beautiful flowers 
and ^irubs are almost infinite. The trunk of the puvi 
supplies excellent cork. Of 97 kinds of trees, which di¬ 
versify the forests, only 13 lose their leaves in w'inter. 

Bees abound in the southern provinces. Reptiles are 
rare. The sea supplies various kinds of excellent fish. 
Ostriches arc numerous in the valliesof the Andes. The 
eggs, of which the female lays from 40 to 60 in the sand, 


190 


UNITED PROVINCES OF SOUTH AMERICA. 


yield, each of them, about two pounds of good food ; and 
the feathers are used for plumes, parjsols, and fans. The 
condor is also known in this country. Most of the Eu¬ 
ropean animals have improved in this delicious climate. 
The celebrated Spanish sheep have not lost any of their 
distinguishing qualities ; the horned cattle are larger than 
those of Spain ; and the breed of horses surpasses, both 
in beauty and spirit, the famous Andalusian race, from 
which they spring. 

Of all the metals,’gold is the most ^abundant in Chili. 
There is hardly a mountain or a hill but produces more 
or less of it. It is found in the soil of the plains and in 
the sand of all the rivers. 

Sf. Jago IS ^the capital. It is situated on a delightful 
plain, 90 miles from the ocean. Near the middle of the 
city is the grand quadrangular piazza or pubUck square, 
450 feet on each side, with a beautiful f ountain (»f bronze 
in the centre. Here are 11 convents, 7 nunneries, 4 
parochial churches, S hospitals, and a royal university. 
The number of inhabitants is about 46,000. 

ValparaizOf containing 7,000 inhabitants, is the “^port 
©f St. Jago, and is the most commercial city in Chili. 
Conception is the^^Scond city of Cliili. The irihabitanis 


are about 15,000. The houses are only one story, that 
they may be able more effectually to resist the shocks of 
earthquakes, which occur here almost every y^ear. 

Two roads lead from Chili to Peru ; one by the sea- 
coast, which is destitute of water and provisions, and the 
other by the mountains. There are eight or nine roads 
which cross the Andes, which cannot be passed in less 
than eight days. These roads in many places are so 
steep and narrow, that travellers are obliged to quit their 
mules, (the only animal, that can be employed,) and go 
on foot. 


UNITED PROVINCES OF SOUTH AMERICA. 

The Vice-royalty of Buenos Ayres, on proclaiming itself 
independejit, in 1816, took the name of The United Prov- 
inces of South Jlmerica, It is mostly a level country, 
^abounding with plains, by the Spaniards called Pampas, 
some of which are many hundred miles in extent, for the^ 
most part uninhabited, and destitute of trees, or any object 
to interrupt the sight, covered in their natural state, with 
high grass, which waves and losses in the wind like a sea. 


UNITED PROVINCES OF SOUTH AMERICA. 


191 


^ These plains are ’infested with wild Indians, which ren¬ 
ders travelling in ntariy places dangerous. They are 
also the resort of innumerable herds of wild cattle, and 
horses, which feed on grass. 

^The ’climate is remarkably salubrious.^ In the summer 
the air is serene ; but in the winter, which here com¬ 
mences in June, storms often occur, attended with rain 
and (Ireadful thunder and lightning. At this season, like¬ 
wise, the vehement west winds, which blow from ilie 
pampas or plains, are very troublesome to the inhabitants. 
This wind, passing over a plain of 8 or 900 miles in ex¬ 
tent, and not meeting with any thing in its course, to 
check its impetuo'ity, acquires additional strength j till, 
by running straight along the. channel of the river La- 
Plata. it blows with such fury that ships, in order to 
withstand it, are obliged to throw out all their anchors, 
and to strengthen their cables with strong chains of iron. 
The approach of this wind is indicated by violent thun¬ 
der and lightning. 

-'T'he ’productions are maize, potatoes, cotton, sugar, 
indigo, pimenlo, ijiecacuanha, and, above all, the herb 
Paraguay, so called.*) It is the leaf of a middle sized tree, 
an infusion of which is drank for tea, almost every where 
in South America, particularly in Peru and Cliili. 

Immense quantities of wild cattle are killed here every 
year solely for their hides, which constitute a principal 
article of trade in this country. About ‘'20 hunters pro¬ 
ceed on horseback, where these animals are known to 
herd, liaving in their hands a long stick shod with iuin, 
ami very siiaip, with which they strike tive ox they pur¬ 
sue on one of the hind legs ; and they make the blow so 
adroitly, that they almost always cut the sinews above, 
the joint. The animal soon altervvards falls, and cannot 
rise again 'I'lie hunters, instead of stopping, pursue on 
ali« r tiie hertl at full gallop, witii the reins loose, striking 
in the same manner all they overtake ; and thus iSoriiO 
men will with case fell 7 or 800 catiJe In an hour. VV lien 
they are tired id' tliis exercise, tliey dismount to rest, aad 
afterwards knock on the head those they iiave wounded. 
Alter taking the skin, and sometimes the tongue and 
suet, they leave the rest for birds of prey. 

Great numbers of wild dogs, which descended from the 
doii.estic kind, infest the pampas, particularly in the 
country near tlie city Buenos Ayres. Fhey live under 
gn und in iioles, which may be easily discovered by tbe 
quantity of bones heaped round them. 


192 


BRAZIL. 


The horses of this province are excellent. They pos¬ 
sess all the spirit of the Spanish horses, frora which they 
have descended, and they travel with great rapidity. 
The inhabitants make no provision either of hay or straw 
for the support of these animals, the mildness of the cli¬ 
mate allowing them to graze in the fields all the year. 

Serpents are numerous, some of which are of enor¬ 
mous size. The jactimama is from SO to 50 feet in 
length. It ^conquers its prey by crushing it to death in 
its folds. 

Bumos so called from the salubrity of its cli- 

inaie, situated on the river La Plata, is ^the capital. The 
river here is 30 miles wide, but of difficult navigation. 
The publick buildings are mostly elegant, being built of 
beautiful white stone. The houses are of brick, and 
about 6,000 in number. The city carries on a very ex¬ 
tensive commerce. V Its population is 62,000. 

Monte Video has a good harbour, and is well fortified. 
The population is diminished to about 10,000. 

Potosi IS in the vicinity of the celebrated silver mines 
of that name. The churches are remarkably magnificent, 
and profusely decorated with utensils and ornaments of 
gold and silver. The houses are generally well built, 
and sumptuously furnished. The number of inhabitants 
is supposed to be 100,000. The adjacent country is re¬ 
markably barren. 

Mendoza carries on a considerable trade. Population, 

21 , 000 . 

There is an uninterrupted post r» ad across the conti¬ 
nent, frora the city Buenos Ayres to Peru. The *^mode 
of travelling Ls in covered carts or caravans, drawn by 
oxen. A communication is kept up in llie same way w ith 
Chili. In crossing these extensive painpas or plains, how¬ 
ever, great danger is incurred from the savage Indians, 
which inhabit them. It is necessary that senuies be set 
every night, and that the utmost precautions be taken to 
prevent being surprised by them ; in which case only, or 
when greatly superior in numbers, their attacks prove 
successful. 

BRAZIL. 

Brazil is mostly a level country, in some parts covered 
\vitil,impenetrable forests, an<l in others frequently flood¬ 
ed by the annual inuudations of its principal rivers. Iij. 
the ^northern parts me ciiinate is hot and insalubrious 


BP AZIL. 


193 


pi'ocpefllng towards the >i(>uth, It is more agreeat) e; 
South the I' pic of Capricorn, it is teinpeiaie, pleas¬ 
ant, and healthfulT) 

'rhi> couniiy generally posse^^ses the mist luxuriant 
fertility. It" in(»*.r iinporiant ’vt'i;etable produc’ions are 
sugar, tobacco, ant! indigt^ Great quantitie- of «sugarare 
produced and exported. The tobacco is * xcelleiii Its 
^other vegetable productions^re Indian (oro, wlieai, rice, 
coffee, cocoa or chocolate, pepper, c.ic us, on whirl) is 
bred the irtsect furnishing cochineal, and the ren or Bra¬ 
zil wood, of which so inucli is imported into d'.tfereut 
countries for tlie purpose of dyeing, and from which (he 
country derives its name. Various species of melons 
likewise thrive here ; also the plantain, the banana, the 
palm, the yam, ginger and tumeric. The ’principal fruits 
are the pine apple, mango, tamarind, oranges, limes and 
grapes.^ Several medicinal plants of high estimation grow 
here spontaneously, and in great abundance, such as con- 
trayerva, Indian pink, jalap, and guaiacum. 

Besides the Brazil wood, this country ’furnishes los:- 
wood, fustic, mahogany, ehony, an<) satin wood. 

The horses of Brazil are small, and incapable of much 
labour ; in the interior they run w ild in vast droves, and 
are of so little-value, they are merely caught to per¬ 
form a journey, and w hen tired, or the journey is over, 
are again turned loose. Brazil also‘abounds in w ild cat- 
tie, wliich, as in Spanish America, are hunted for their 
hides. 

Brazil breeds a variety of serpents and venomous rep¬ 
tiles; among which are the Indian Salainaniler, with four 
legs, v\hose sting is said to be tatal ; the ibiboboca, a spe¬ 
cies of serpent about seven yards long ; the raitle-snake, 
of enormous size ; and the liboya, or roe-buck snake, 
which is said to extend to the length ot between 20 and 
SO feet, and to be two yards in circumference, and which 
is capable, as some authors have reported, of swallowing 
a C'le-buck whole. 

Brazil is chiefly ^celebrated for Its'gold and diamond 
mine.s The latter are near Ville Nova de Principe, 
about 17 degrees south latitude The diamonds of Brazil 
are not so fine as those of Hindostan. These are the only 
countrie.s yet known to alford the diamond. One of the 
largest yet discovered was sent from Brazil to the king 
of Portugal. It’weighed I 25 ounces, and has been valued 
.*it5b,7b7,500/. or 25^^,388,886 dollars. The most minute 

Hr 


194 


BRAZIL. 


precautions are taken in Brazil to prevent the conceal¬ 
ment of diamonds, bj persons of every description com¬ 
ing from the mines ; they are not only stripped naked, 
and minutely searched, but even their horses and mules 
are purged. 

The commerce of Brazil is of great iinportance, and is 
•ontinuaily increasing. The ^exports consist chiefly of 
the produce of the mines, sugar, tobacco, hides, indigo, 
various drugs and materials for dyeing. The ’imports 
are grain, wine and several other European productions^ 
with almost all the various articles of European manufac¬ 
ture. The Brazilians, however, have begun to manufac¬ 
ture several of the most necessary articles for home con¬ 
sumption. 

Jiio Janeiro^ or St. Sebastian^ is the ’capital of Brazil. 
It is situated about 4 miles within the entrance of a bay 
of the same name. The entrance is less than a mile wide, 
and crossed in every direction by heavy batteries, being 
commanded on each side by high rocks, on one of which 
is the castle of Santa Cruz. The streets are in general 
straight and well paved. The squares are adorned with 
fountains supplying water from a magnificent cistern. 
Many of the houses are well built of hewn stone. All is 
bustle and activity in this city, in the various pursuits of 
business, devotion, and pleasure. Every hour in the day 
bells and other signals announce some religious ceremo¬ 
ny 5 after sunset, the streets are crowded with proces¬ 
sions ; and at every corner is stuck up in a glass case, the 
iniage of the Virgin Mary, which receives a regular hom¬ 
age from passengers. The population is estimated at 
150,000, of whom nearly four fifths are black, or mixed. 

Theother chief cities are St. Salvador, and Pernambuco. 
The latter is not of any considerable magnitude 5 but the 
former is but little inferior to Rio Janeiro. It stands in a 
lofty situation on the coast, and has an excellent harbour. 
Till the middle of the last century, it was the chief city 
of Brazil, and the seat of the Viceroy. 

Luxury, ostentation, and indolence, are the ’general 
characteristics of the Portuguese in Brazil. All ’labour is 
chiefly performed by slaves, of whom 20,000 are import¬ 
ed from Africa annually. In some of the towns the num¬ 
ber of the blacks exceeds that of the whites in a ten-fold 
proportion. The condition of the slaves, however, not 
,only in Portuguese, but also in Spanish America, is great* 


ENGLISH, DUTCH, AND TRENCH GUIANA. l95 

ly preferable to what it is on the West India Islands, or 
in the United States. The negroes here are a sort of 
tenants, or undertakers of work. In the business of col¬ 
lecting gold and jewels, the master supplies his slave 
with a certain quantity of provisions and tools, and the 
slave is obliged to return a certain quantity of gold and 
jewels^ All that remains over this fixed ration, how great 
soever may be its value, is the property of the slave. 
Under such regulations, a negro who may happen to be 
fortunate in his undertakings, may sometimes acquire a 
very considerable property. 'I'he rich pearl fisheries of 
Panama, and other parts, are in the same manner in the 
hands, as it were, of negro tenants. 'I'he slaves in the 
towns are allow'ed to hire themselves out to different 
kinds of employment, on condition of paying to their mas¬ 
ters a certain proportion of their wages. After a slave 
has, by any of these means, acquired property, and wish¬ 
es to purchase his freedom, if the master’s demands be 
exorbitant, the laws enable him to have the price fixed 
by sworn appraisers, appointed by the magistrate. On 
all occasions, in case of ill treatment, the slave can, on 
making complaint to the magistrate, procure immediate 
redress. In consequence of these regulations, the slaves 
are faithful and laborious ; the free negroes are nume¬ 
rous, industrious, quiet, and attached to the country and 
governjnent. The greatest part of the artificers are free 
negroes, and of this class of men some of the best troops 
in Spanish and Portuguese America are composed. 

The Roman Catholic is the universal religion in Brazil. 

ENGLISH, DUTCH, AND FRENCH GUIANA. 

English, Dutch,and French Guiana extends on the coast 
from the river Essequibo to the Owyapoke, 800 miles. 

The ’face of this extensive- country is flat to a great 
distance into the interior, and ’subject to inundations. It 
is watered by several rivers, the chief of which is the Es‘ 
eequibo, 300 miles in length, and 9 miles wide at its mouth. 
The Surinam is a fine river, three quarters of a mile in 
width. No country perhaps on the globe has a richer 
soil, or displays a more luxuriant vegetation. Along the 
coast the air is damp and sultry, and the waters are brackish 
and unwholesome. The sea breeze from the north east, 
however, contributes to refresh the atmosphere. Sugar, 
coffee, cocoa, indigo, ginger, rice, maize, and tobacco, are 


196 


ENGLISH, DUTCH, AND FRENCH GUIANA. 


the articles ^chiefly cultivated. All the tropical plants 
and fiuiis thrive here, except such as require a dry and 
sandy soil. ' 

Amt ng its forest ^trees may be reckone<l the red roan^ 
grove tree, which sends forth from its branches and trunk 
a vast number of filaments, like a ship’s ropes, which fall 
into the ground, take root and rise again ^ the guaiacum, 
40 feet high ; the cassia fistula, between 40 and 50 feet 
high, bearing brown, cjlinvlric pods, 18 inches in length j 
and the camphor tree. The silk-cotton tree, which 
grows to the height of 100 feet, is free from branches 
about 70 feet. It yields triennial crops of silky cotton, 
and is the fav(»urite tree for tiie Indian caiioes. The cab¬ 
bage tree grows to the height of liiO feet with the cab¬ 
bage on the top of the trunk, it has the taste of an al¬ 
mond, and is boiled or eaten raw. 

A plant of this country, called troolies, is a very sin¬ 
gular production. Its leaves lie on the ground, and 
sometimes attain the almost incredible dimensions of 30 
feet in length, and 3 in breadth. These leaves are ^used 
as a covering for houses, and will last several years with¬ 
out any repair. 

Among vegetable productions may likewise be reckon¬ 
ed a variety of drugs of great potency in medicine, as 
quassia, the castor oil bean, ipecacuanha,and balsam copay- 
va ; likewise some of the most mortal poisons, both of the 
slow and rapid kind, but equally fatal in their operation. 

Ebony, fustic, and Spanish cedar, abound near the riv¬ 
ers, as well as many other kinds of valuable timber. 

Tigers infest the woods, and alligators the rivers. 
Serpents are exceedingly numerous ; some of which are 
of enormous size, and others extremely venomous. 

Paramaribo, the capital of Dutch, and the largest town 
in all Guiana, is ’situated on the river Surinam, 15 miles 
from its mouth. The streets are all paved, and planted 
with orange, lemon and tamarind trees. The population 
is estimated at 20,000, of whom 3,000 are Jews. The 
town is defended by a fort, called New-Amsterdam, near 
the mouth of the river. 

Cayenne, the ’capital of French Guiana, is situated on 
a marshy and unhealthy island, about 30 miles in circum¬ 
ference. The town is small, and the houses badly con¬ 
structed with wood. The number of white inhabitants, 
exclusive of the garrison, is about 1,200. This dreary 
spot was the place of exile to which many of the French 
royalists were expelled in the time of the revolution. 


tJ'NCONqUERED COUNTRIES 


ISLANDS. 


197 


The white inhabitants of Surinam are mostly English 
anil Dutch ; those of Cayenne are chiefly French. The 
iR'Mdls of all are wretchedly depraved. All ’labour is 
here performed by slaves.^ I’heir’treatment in the Dutch 
colony is excessively severe, so rhat bands of negroes, 
impelled by despair to levolt, have retired into the interi¬ 
or parts of the province, and. under leaders of their 
own, have formed themselves into a distinct community. 
They are calleil Maroons, and, having increased in num¬ 
bers by «iuccessive desertions from the settlement, liave 
now become formidable to their former masters. 

UNCONQUERED COUNTRIES. 

The Independent Indian Nations ’inhabit principally 
all the central part of South America, particularly Ama¬ 
zonia and Patagonia ; which are unconquered countries 
entirely in their possession. 

Spanish and Portuguese America have likewise a nu¬ 
merous Indian population. Tlie same may be said of 
Fienrh ind Dutcii Guiana, of which a small part only is 
subdued and colonized. 

ISLANDS. 

The islands contiguous to South America, are— Trini¬ 
dad, generallv included among the West Indies, lately . 
ceded to Great Britain by Spain It is represented as 
fertile, and well ’adapted to the cultivation of cotfee. It 
is remarkably free from those hurricanes which so often 
spread devastation in the West India Islands. This isl¬ 
and is ’noted for a remarkable lake of Petroleum, or fossil 
oil, vvhicii alfards a valuable object of exportation, as 
being the best preservative of the bottoms of ships from the 
worms, which are so destructive to them in the West In¬ 
dies. and the warm climates of America,— Phe Falkland 
Islands, near the southern extremity of South America, 
ishese islands belong to Spain. They are situated in a 
very inclement climate, with a barren ’soil. 

Tekka del Fuego, separated from the southern ex*- 
tremdy of South America by the strait of Magellan, is 
wholly in ’possession of the natives, a wretched and 
squalid race, shivering with perpetual cold, and support¬ 
ing life on a scanty supply of shell fish, or whatever else, 
capable of being eaten, the ocean may throw on their 
shores. On this island there is a very celebrated voicaatfi 

R 2 



198 


EUROPE. 


The island Chiloe, off the coast of Chili, is ^settled 
by the SpauiariU. and is re'-iarkaoly fer;ile. More re¬ 
mote from the coast is the s uall island Juw F^hnandez, 
uninhabited, but ’noted for the r freshment which it has 
afforded to navigators from its wild goats and vegetables. 
A sailor by the name of Alexander Selkirk, beinu; left on 
this island by his captain, lived here a number of years in 
solitude, which y-i^tve rise to the celebrated romance of 
Robiosoa Crusoe. 

The Gali APAGos are a group of uninhabited isles. 
They ’ab »un I with turtle, on which account they are 
sometimes visited by ships. 



Europe, though the least extensive quarter of the 
globe ye' in many respects, is that which most particu¬ 
lar! v deserves our attention. 

Here it is the human mind has made the greatest pro- 
giess tijvvards improvement ; and here the arts, whether 
of utility or ornament, the sciences, both military and 
civil, have been carried to the greatest perfectio'i. If we 
except the earliest ages of the wmrld, it is in Europe we 
find the greatest variety of character, government, and 
manners, and from hence we draw the greatest number of 
facts and materials, for our entei tainmentand instruction. 

Europe possesses natural ’a»lvantages for commerce, 
superior to those of' any otln r quarter of the globe, 
scarcely any place on tlie continent being more than 400 
miles from some navigable water or sea. 'I'iie highest 
mountains are towards tlie south, neaily opposite to tlie 
centre of the Mediterranean, where they constitute the 
Al|,. of Savoy and Switzerland. The ’eastern side, for 
the most part, consists of one vast plain extending from 
the Black sea to the Frozen ocean. 

Within such a range of latitude, great diversities of 
clituate must necessarily exist ; but the ’prevalent char¬ 
acter of Europe is that of moderate temperature. Of the 
two extremes, that of cojd aii>ne is felt; the heat in no 
part can be compared with that of the torrid regions. 

'I'he productions ot the Euiopean continent are rather 
useful than splendid. Gold, sdver, and precious stones 
are indeed found in some countries, but by no means in 


KKOLAND. 


199 


such quantity as to supply the (le^an^l even in the coun¬ 
tries where they are found, nuich le.'^s lo lempt the r.ip.»ci- 
ty of their neighbour' to invade them o i that account. 
All the countries of Kurupe. however. ’ai)ound vvi h the 
necessaries < f life, though in none of them are they ro f)e 
had with 'ut a considerab'e dei^i-ee of labour on the part 
of the inhabi ants ; rhe con.'«e<jneoce of vv'nich is. ami al¬ 
ways has bf'e.', a decree of activity Mip»'iior to that of 
the Asiatics. Africatts, or [terhaps Americans; who, by 
excessive plenty, aie prompted to trust to the sponraneous 
productions of the soil, neglecting agriculture and the 
useful arts. 

The chris ian religion prevails throughout Europe, 
except in some parts ot Tu'-key. Wherever the christiaa 
faith has penetrated, knowledge, industry, and civiliza¬ 
tion hav** fol!(»vved. 

'I'he latitjuages of the southern parts retain a consider¬ 
able resetnblatice to the Greek atid E itin ; ll»e in!«abitants 
ol modern Gieece to this day use the same alphabet 
with their ancestors. 'I'he Turks retain the laiiijuaire 
they brought with them from Asia. I he langu.jg'^s of 
llte northern and western parts are derived from the Lat¬ 
in, reutonic, Celtic, or some o.her of (he nations who 
overrun the western part of the Roman empire. 

ENGLAND. 

I 

Climate. The climate of Efm.land is ’distinguished fot* 
its moisture, ami for sudden and frequent changes in the 
weather. In no country is the atmosphere more fre¬ 
quently loaded ^^ it!l clouds. Tne seasons are very imlis- 
tincily mar ked. Frosty nights are nor uncommon in June, 
and the tnonth of December is f.o' uidVeipiently tinctuied 
with the mildness of May. Tire ’exti'emes ot heat and 
cold are less than any other counti-y in the same lati¬ 
tude. I'he cold in winter is not such as to destroy vege¬ 
tation, nor i!.e heat in summer such as to bring Indian 
corn to maturity. 

The spring often commences in February, sometimes 
not till April, liailey and oats aie frequently ’sown in 
March, ami reaped in September or October. 'The ’pro- 
wre-s of ve"-etatM)n in England is mucli slower tiian in 
tiie Uni fed States. 

face of the Country. 'The ’face of the country in gene¬ 
ral is variegated and beautiful. Such regard has been 


200 


ENGLAKB. 


paid to agriculture, that no country in the world equals 
the cultivated parisof England in b<^autiful scenes. The 
mulual couiniunication of the difftrent parts is promoted 
by tu' npike roads in every direction, and by inland navi¬ 
gation. 

Soil and Productions. Of soil, there is almost every 
variety. Stiff clay and loam predominate in some of the 
counties most noted for fertility. Snud prevails in some 
tracts, chalk and calcareous earth in others. The pro¬ 
portion of waste land, which, from the unpromising quali- 
ties ot its soil, is left uncultivated, is also considerable. 

In no country is agriculture more thoroughly umler- 
stood, or pursued in a grander s'yle ; and it is to this cir¬ 
cumstance, perhaps, more than to the natural fertility of 
its sod, that, England owes much of its abundance. 

Wheat is extensively cultivated, but the quan'itv of 
rye produced is inconsiderable. Oats grow in great quan¬ 
tities, and constitute almost the only ’bread of the lower 
classes in many parts. Barley is extensively ’culrivaled 
for 'he breweries, beer being the ’common drink ot the in¬ 
habitants. Beans are raised in very considerable quanti¬ 
ties, principally for horses ; turnips for cattle and sheep. 
The produce of grain, however, in late years, owing to 
the increase of population and other incidental causes, is 
ineufficient for the supply of the inhabitants without con¬ 
siderable importations. 

Apples for cider, in Hertfordshire and Devonshire, are 
both plentiful and excellent. Rapeseed, hops, hemp, and 
flax, are also successfully cultivated. 

England, from the nature of its climate, is peculiarly 
’adapted to pasturage, and there is no point of rural econ- 
0 y in which the British nation more excels than in the 
breeding of domestic animals, such as horses, cattle and 
sheep, every species of which has been brought to a de* 
give of excellence scarcely to be met with in any other 
country. 

Of savage animals, the most ’fierce and destructive is 
the wiid-cat,—bears and wolves having been totally de- 
st roved. Hr* ’lar ^est bird in England is the bustard, 
so lie nt wltic 1 weigh 25 pounds; the only’venomous ser- 
p*‘n is the viper. 

1 !»e oaIv. chesinu', beech, birch, maple, ash, sycamore, 
bo\, pine, a d ye.v, are the ’most usual trees or the for¬ 
est. Bit coal is the ’comiuoa fuel of the country. 


ENGLAND. 


J 


201 


Minerals. Among the minerals, the tin mines of Corn- 
^’all a e Uie ^rnost noted. They were known to the Greeks 
and Phoenicians before the Christian era, and are sup- os- 
ed to be the richest in kind in the vvorUI. Plie ’number 
of Cornish miners is said to amount to 100,000. Iron is 
extensively diffused ; lead, copper, zinc, atnl rock-^alt, 
aret(»und in certain parts. Pit coal is exc'-edin -lv abund¬ 
ant. 'I'he mines of Northumberland, it i> saiil. furnish 
London animally with 600.000 c aldrons. die transporta¬ 
tion of which ’employs 1500 vessels. These iitin*> are 
a singular curiosity. Tln)se in the vicinity cf White¬ 
haven, particularly, are sunk to ihe depth of 800 leet, 
and have been extended to the distance of a mile and a 
half under the sea, where the water above them is of 
sufficient depth to float the largest ships. 

Mineral waters. Tlie hot wells of liatli. Bristol, Bux¬ 
ton and' tlie mineral waters i*f Tunbridge, llaiiowgate 
and Ej)soot, are the ’most celebrated. 

Bridges. 'The bridges in this country are wor hy tlie 
superiority of the roads. Some of them are of cast iron, 
an invention unknown to all other natior«s One of tl)e*(e 
over the harbour at Sunderland, is at the height of 100 
feet. 'The carnages, when viewed from below, appear 
as if passing among Ihe clouds. 

^Canals. Canals are numerous, many of which have 
been executed w-itli amazing labour and expense. The 
Grand Trunk, so called, connecting Liverpool with Hull, 

' is 99 miles in length •, it is carried over the river Dove, by 
an aqueduct resting on 23 arches, and through the hill of 
Harecastle by a subterraneous passage, a mile and three- 
quarters in length, and more than 200 feet below the 
surface of the ground. Works of a similar nature are to 
be met with in various parts of the kingdom. 

Manufactures. One of the ’principal sources of the 
wealth of Great Britain consists in lier manufactures, 
which have been recently estimated at the annual value 
of ^63,600,000, and- supposed to employ 1,585,000 per¬ 
sons that of cotton alone employs more than half a mil¬ 
lion ; to supply which, 70 million pounds of cotton are im¬ 
ported annually. The woollen manufacture atlbrds the 
’greatest net profit, and is considered the most important 
to the kingdom. The next is thatol leather; after whicii 
are those of fin, iron, and lead. Indeed, there is hardly 
a manufacture can be «nentiontMl, i%iiich is not here 
brought to the highest degiee of perlcctioii. 


ENGLANB. 


^Commerce. The commerce of Great Britain is im¬ 
mense, and has never been equalled by that of any other 
nation, ancient or nuuletn. ’riie number of vessels em- 
ploved in trade, in 1813, was 23,676, manned by 163,657 
men. This iniinense commerce is principally ’supported 
by her numerous manufactures. 

Principfd Cities. London^ the capi al, though not the 
most magnificent and populous, is undoubtedly tl.e most 
commerciJ and the lichest city in the world. It is ’situ¬ 
ated abiiut 60 miles from the sea, on the river Thames, 
which is here one quarter of a mile wide. Its circumfer¬ 
ence is about 16 miles. The streets are paved and well 
lighted, and the houses generally of brick. The most ’re¬ 
markable buildings are St. Ptul’s, 340 feet in height to 
the top ot the cross ; Westminster Abbey, where the Brit¬ 
ish kings I ml other illustrious personages are interred ; 
the T\vi Mt)uses in farliament, and Westminster-Hall, a 
ya-it room, b et long and 70 wide, supposed to be the 
largest in the world whose roof is not supported by pillars; 
the I’ower, ’remarkable for the curiosities if contains ; 
the Monument, a pillar 93 feet in height, ’erected in coin- 
me rioration of the grea^ fire in 1666. London is also (he 
seat of numerous manufacture"^ ; tliat of porier is carried 
on upon a most extensive scslef In 'tit? of the breweries 
is a vai or tub, 70 feet in iliameter and 30 feet deep. It 
holds 20,000 barrels. Many of the hoops weigh 3 tons, 
and cost ii300 each. 

'I'he ’number of inhabitants is 1,225,000, which is 
about twice the number of inhabitants in the whole 
State of Massachusetts. To supply so vast a population, 
it is computed that no less than 10,000 ’acres of ground 
are cultivated in the vicinity fur vegetables and 4.000 
acres for fruit. The environs of London are inexpressi¬ 
bly beautiful, all the streets and every avenue leading in¬ 
to the city being bordered with villas and tdegant houses, 
to the distance of many miles into the country. 

^ L’verpool ’>’anks next to London in trade and popula¬ 
tion, i.iough only a village at the commencement of the last 
ceii ury. The West-Indies, United Slates, and Irish 
trades,are the’principal brandies of its commerce. Popu¬ 
lation 119,000. Brisfolis a large, fiourishiiig, commercial 
city, alth' ugh much of its commerce with the VVest-lntlies 
and America has passed to Liverpool //'//on the Hum¬ 
ber,is a port of great commerce, pi incipally with the Baltic. 
NeivcastiBfh ’situated m the centre of tiie great coal mines. 


ENGLAND. 


203 


This trtwn exhibits tlie novel view of large carts loaded 
with coals, so cuiistructed as to pn)cee(l from the mines 
to the |)ort on inclined planes, and after being unloaded, 
return ajjain, ^vithout the assistance of man or beast. 

Biitfi IS ’celebrated f'*r its waters. It is the seat of 
elegance and fasiiion, and the great resort of persons of 
rank and fortune, both for pleasure and health, york is 
regarded as the capital of the north of England, being 
the winter residence of a great number of the gentry of 
these parts. 

wants. The English appear to possess a mien be¬ 
tween the gravity of the German, and the liveliness of the 
French ; they are solid and peisevering, and have a natu¬ 
ral inclination for arts and arms. With’respect to learn^ 
ing and literary character, England stands conspicuous 
and unrivalled among surrounding nations. The ’prin¬ 
cipal universities are those of Oxford and Cambridge. 

Beligi-in. The established religion is that called the 
Church of England, or E[)iscopal Protestantism 5 but all 
other religions are tolerated. 

Navy.. The navy of Grtat Britain consists of more 
than 1000 ships, 254 of which are of the line. 

Government., The government is a limited mon¬ 

archy. llis present Majesty is George IV. who was pro¬ 
claimed king in 1821. 

Antiquities. The antiquit’es of England are British, 
Roman, Saxon and D inish. Toe chief British are those 
circles of stones in Wiltshire, and Stonehenge, supposed 
to have been places of worship in the time or the Druids. 
The Roman antiquities consist chietly of altai>, monu- 
menial insceptions, and military ways. The Saxon are 
chiefly ecclesiastical edifices and forts. 

hlands. The hte of mgfit is the ’most important, 
about 23 miles in lengiu. Ttie air is extremely pure, 
and the soil remarkably fertile, particularly in grain.^ 

Guernsey and Je^^ey aie the next in impoitance The 
former is not very fertile, nut the air is exceedingly sa¬ 
lubrious. Jersey is extremely fertile, and is ’note«l for its 
butter and honey. In some y^ ars 14,000 hogsheads of 
cider are produced from its numerous orchards. The 
inhabitants of these islands, together with Stark and Al¬ 
derney, their appendages, are computed at about 40,000* 
Their lam^uage is French. Their’principal manufacture 
and staple commodity is knit stockings* 


204 


WALES.... SCOTLAND. 


The Isle of Man^ in the Irish sea, is about 30 miles in 
length. It is ®well stored with cattle an sheep. ;’he 
inhabitants are about 30,000. They ^export wool, hides, 
and tallow. 

Jinghsea^ a little south of the Isle of Man, is ’rema k- 
able for its fertility. It also contains a rich copper mine. 
Packet-boats proceed daily from this island to Ii eland. 
The passage requires about 12 hours. 

The Sculy Isles are little else than a cluster of danger¬ 
ous rocks, to the number of about 140, some of wliich 
are inhabited, and contain about 1400 inhabitants. 


WALES. 

Wales is a mountainous country. Snowdon, the most 
^elevated summit is 3,456 feet above the level of the sea. 
The inhabitants are called Welch. 'I'hev'are choleric, 
but honest, brave and hospitable. VV ales, in general, 
carries on a great trade in coals, and has several woollen 
manuf iCtories, and iion foundries. It’abounds in cattle 
and goats. This country was united to England under 
Eowaril 1. whose ehlestson was deciared Prince of Wales. 
The number of inhabitants is above 700,000. 

SCOTLAND. 

Face of the Country, The Tace of the country is 
extremely diver&jhed. rh'* mountainous part, c alled the 
Highlands, is bleak and generally barren, except the val- 
lies, which every whei e intersect the mountains ; the 
Lowlands are a champaign rather than a flat countrv, in 
general fertile, and bearing a strong resemblance to Eng¬ 
land. One ^striking fe ture of Scotland is the almost to¬ 
tal absence of wood, which give$ the country a kind of 
forlorn aspect. 

^Climate. Tlie atmosphere in the eastern part is drier 
than that of England, as I he mountains on the w est arrest 
the vapours from the Atlantic. On the other hami, the 
western counties are drenched with long continued rains, 
an insuperable obstacle to the advancement of agricuh ure. 

'^Productions. In the Lowlands the productions are 
nearly the same as in England and in some places the 
crops of every kind of grain are abundant. A very con¬ 
siderable part of Scotland, however, displays but little 
improvement, and the husbandman barely lives on the 


SCOTLAND. 


205 


S^canty produce of his farm. In those places, the cattle 
are lean and smah, the houses exceedingly mean, and 
llie whole face ot the country exhibits the most deplora¬ 
ble marks of poverty. 

Cities. Edinburgh.^ the ’capital of Scotland, is situated 
near the Forth It stands on an emioerice. and makes a 
grand appearance. The castle is built on a solid rock of 
great height, and looks down upon the city, commanding 
a most -extensive and beautiful view. That part called 
the New Town is very elegant and well laid out. At 
Edinburgh there is a university and several other publick 
buildings. 'I'his city, including Keith, its seaport, con¬ 
tains 138,000 inhabitants. 

Glasgow., situated on the Clyde, is now the ’first city 
in Scotland for population, commerce, and manufactures; 
and, considering its size, is perhaps one of the first in Eu¬ 
rope for its elegance and regularity. It is also distin¬ 
guished for its literary institutions. Here are consider¬ 
able manufactures of cotton, glass, earthen ware, stock¬ 
ings, gloves, and cordage. The university is spacious 
and well built. There are a few fine publick buildings.j 
The number of inhabitants is 147,000. 

JIberdeen is the ’third city for trade, extent and beauty.' 
it is also noted tor its university. Population 45,000. 

' Inhabitants, 4*c. The ’inhabitants are called scotch, 
,and their ’language Erse, which is much the same as that 
used by the Irish. 

The Scotch are temperate, industrious, hardy and val¬ 
iant, and are great lovers of learning. Scotland has pro¬ 
duced many literary characters. In no country in Eu¬ 
rope are the lower classes so well taught as in Scotland.) 

F.ngland and Scotland were formerly two kingdoms, 
but were united under one sovereign in 1603, when James 
the VI. of Scotland, became king of England ; and iti 
1707, they were firmly united under queen Anne. 

Islands. The ’Scottish Islands are the Hebrides or 
Western islands, the Orkney and the Shetland islands.^ 
These ’islands produce cattle, sheep, and some grain.* 
The inhabitants of the Shetland islands subsist mostly by 
fishing and fowling. In the months of June and July, the 
twilight is sufficient to enable them to see to read at mid¬ 
night ; but during the greatest part of the year, they are 
n^rally involved in fogs and darkness. 

S 


S06 


IRELAND. 


IRELAND. 

Face of the Country. The ^Rtce of the country in gen¬ 
eral, is h vel, iis hills or mountains, if th.e; can aspire to 
that name, Oeing only in shot t detached ridges. One of 
its ^oiost strikiru feature^ is the quantity of bog by whicli 
its surface is deformed, and which are a great obstruction 
both to travelling and agriculture. 

Climate. In climate, Ireland ^differs from England 
only in being more directlv exposed :othe influence of the 
Atlantic ocean, and its prevading winds. Hence it still 
more abounds with utoisture, i.nd its atmosphere is more 
enveloped in clouds and fogs ; at the sajoe time, it is pro- 
portionably less subject to the severity of frost. 

Soil and Productions. The ’soil i^ stonj ; but in natural 
fertility it exceeds that of England, and only requires the 
hand of industry to render its supeiiontv every where 
visible. Agriculture, however, has laboured under many 
disadvantages from various circumstances of internal reg¬ 
ulation. Tillage is little understood, ami the turnip and 
clover husbandry is ahnost wholly unknown. The wet¬ 
ness of the climate tenders the growth of grain somewhat 
precarious : and it is fortunate that its place is so well sup¬ 
plied by the abundance of potatoes, which were first intro¬ 
duced hidier from Ameiica, and became a common arti¬ 
cle of food when they were little known in any othei Eu- 
ropeait coutury. This toot and oats ’constitute the chief 
fafinaceous lood of the poor. 'I he soil and the climate 
are particularly ’tavourable to the breeding and feediiigof 
cattle ; hence the lower classes are usually well supplied 
with milk ; and buuer, salted provisions, and live catile, 
are exported in laige ijuantities. Much wool is also pro¬ 
duced from the numerous flocks of sheep kept in certain 
disti icts Flax is a common crop m the soil suited to 
it Ireland is quite destitute itf forests j turf is the’con- 
mon fuel ot the country 

Alanufactures and Commerce. The ’staple manufac¬ 
ture of Ireland is that of v\nite linet.s. 'i hese are made 
in quantities sufficient for a large exportation, chiefly to 
E gland and America A very considerable portion of 
tiie’commerce of Ireland arises fiom the abundance of 
caifie, the inoistuie of die climate being so exceedingly 
favourable to pasturage. 

Chip/ Cities. lJublin. the capital, is ’reckoned the sec¬ 
ond city in the Bi msh dominions. 'The number of in- 
‘■habitants, is It coiitaiiis a university, the only 


LAPLAND. 


207 


one in Ireland. The barracks here are said to be the larg- 
and in jst complete in Europe. The hou^ses are of 
brick ; many of the streets are not inferior in elegance 
to those of London. 

Cork^ the second city of Ireland for magnitude, wealth, 
and commerce, is t e chief ’port in the kingdom for the 
exportation of beef, butter, and tallow. It is supposed to 
contain about 90,000 inhabitants. The haven ranks 
among the most capacious and safe in Europe. Limerick 
is next to Cork in importance. It is well built, is a com¬ 
mercial city, and contains about 66,000 inhabitants. 
IVaterford has the next claim to attention. Its ’exports, 
like those of Cork and Limerick, consist principally of 
saltiul provisions. Population 26,000. 

Inhabitants. 'I'he ’present inhabitants of Ireland con¬ 
sist of three distinct classes of people; descendants of 
the English, who inhabit Dublin, Cork, and Waterford, 
and aie the wealthiest part of the nation ; S cottish eini- 
gnnts, established principally in the northern districts ; 
and the posterity of the ancient Irish, poor, ignorant, and 
depressed, who barely exist in the interior and western 
provinces. The higher order of people differ but little 
in language, dress and customs, from those of Great Brit¬ 
ain ; but the poorer class speak the Irish language, and 
are extremely ignorant; they ’live in mean cabins, built 
of clay and straw, and preserve the old customs of con¬ 
vivial meetings on Sunday afternoon, hideous bowlings at 
funerals, and other barbarous ceremonies. 

Religion., 4’C. The Church of England is the establish¬ 
ed religion, but two thirds of the people are supposed to 
be Roman Catholics. Ireland was united with Great 
Britain into one kingdom in 1801. 


LAPLAND. 

A great part of liapland, the whole of Norway, and 
Sweden Proper, is now under the government of Sweden. 
In this and all the northern countries round the Pole, the 
sun remains hidden in the winter for several weeks to¬ 
gether, and never rises above the horizon ; but the reflec¬ 
tion of light from the snow, together with the aurora 
borealis, or northern lights, in a great measure ’compen¬ 
sate for the long absence of day light. No sooner are the 
short days closed, than fires of a thousand figures light 
up the sky. 


£08 


LAPLANP. 


Face of the Country. Lapland is ^divided into two diS^-. 
iricts, the nountainous and the woody. The mountainous 
part of the country is at best barreu and bleak, exces¬ 
sively cold, and uninhabited during the winter. Fhe 
woody part is still more desolate and hideous. The whole 
face of nature here presents a frightful scene of trees with¬ 
out fruit, and tields without verdure. This part of the 
country, moreover, in the summer, is so infested with 
swarms of gnats and flies, that like clouds they obscure 
the light of the sun. and darken the sky. 

Inhabitants.^ Sfc. The ^Laplanders are a diminutive race, 
generally about four feet high, will) short black hair, n ar¬ 
row dark eyes, large lieads, high cheek bones, a wide 
mouth, thick lips, and of a swarthy complexion. They 
live in huts scarcely six feet high. Their fire is made 
upon stones in the middle, aroun*! which they sit upon 
their heels. When they are inclined to eat, a carpet of 
skins is spread down, and the food placed thereon, around 
which both men and women sit close to the ground. 

These people in general are divided into two classes, 
the fishers and the mountaineers. The former are settled 
in villages near the sea or lakes, and are chiefly occupied 
in fishing. The latter reside on the mountains in tiie sum¬ 
mer, where they keep vast herds of rain-deer, which 
^constitute their principal wealth. Without this most 
wonderful animal, the Laplander would find it extremely 
difficult to subsist. Its milk and flesh aftbrd a very whole¬ 
some food ; its skin is converted into clothes; and being 
harnessed eo a kind of sledge, it serves the purpose of a 
horse in conveying him and his goods, with almost incred¬ 
ible velocity over the frozen snow, to the fairs held at 
distant towns during the winter, 

Thomson has given a beautiful description of this ani* 
mal in his Seasons. 

The rain-deer form their riches. These their tents, 

Their robes, their beds, and all their homely wealth. 

Supply, their wholesome fare, and cheerful cups. 

Obsequious at their call, the docile tribe 
Yield to the sled their necks, and whirl them swift 
O’er hill and dale, heap’d into one expanse 
Of marbled snow, as far as eye can sweep. 

With a blue crust of ice unbounded glaz’d. 

In the summer these animals ^feed on grass and leaves, 
and in the winter on a kind of moss which they find out 
with wonderful sagacity, and get at it by scraping away 
the snow with their feet. Population 60,000. 


NORWAY. 


209 


NORWAY. 

Norway, till lately a p!()';'ire of D'^nmark. is now 
tlni oi) lo Sv\»*ii n, by the treaty of Keil. I >14. an • eMj'»vs 
a (lis.inct mlinifiistration. It is a vast ioa->s of moui.tains 
in< j^ularl V cro ‘ (J'mI to*j:ether. i Ik-''|> r»ncij)al ran.-e is 
the 1) »f-af 1 .. between Noi way aivl Sweden. Tli.vse are 
pa^ .pje in lertaui places, but not wifuni' ^leat dani^T 
in me winter fro n the seventy of tlie cold, a re.narka'de 
inst ince of wnic.n happened in I''19, when an annv of 
70()O Swedes p o islied in the- moun'ains in afte optin'^ 
to ros'« over^i attack Dioiitheiin To preveni at i i 1 nfs 
of ltd*, naturo. ‘^overn neiif is at the expense of j)ro\iding 
lioijsie,, or a- they are called, mountain stoves, a’ s>ii»a- 
ble distance's, where trav ‘Hers may be acconfinodaied. 
with fire, lodging, and kitchen furniture. 

'riie-^roads ui this c. untry, in general, are the most dan- 
gerous in tlie world. In some places they are sustained 
along the sides of steej) and craggv mountain.-*, hv iron 
bidisilriven int o the rocks below,or suspended from above, 
without any railings on t!ie siile, it being impossible to fix 
any. The rivers and lalaracts wliicii roar among these 
in (untains, imike tlie scene still more awful, and the slight 
tottering biidges thrown over them, render travelling 
very terrible as vvell as dangerous. 

'I'he sea-coast is singularly broken and torn, through its 
whole extent, into namberle'S creeks and islands, gener¬ 
ally faced withhigli locky dirt’s, having deep water at their 
basis. F.'W of the inlet.s are fit for the purpose of navi¬ 
gation, and tlie streams whicii run into tiiein are mountaia 
toi rents impeded by frecjuent siiallows and cataracts. 

’I.<akes aie numerous, particularly in the soudiern part. 
Several ol them contain lloatiiig islands, which having 
been f irmed by the cohesion of numerous roots.are clothed 
with trees and h. rbage. In the year 170 2, a noble fami¬ 
ly seat in the vicinity of Frederickstadt was swallowed up 
witli all its towers and battlements ; and its site instantly 
converted into a lake, nearly two miles long, and about a 
mile broad. Fliis dreadful accident, by which 14 persons, 
anti 200 heail of cattle perished, seems to have been oc¬ 
casioned l)y tlie sublen aneous waters of a river. 

At Btrgen^ the longest day consists of about 19 hours, 
and the shortest of about five. In summer the inhab¬ 
itants can read and write at midnight by the light of the 
sky } and in the more northerly parts, about mid-summer, 

2 


NOR WAT. 


.^10 

the sun is continually in view; but in the depth of wits- 
ter, in these par»s, there is only a faint glimmering of 
light at noon, for about an hour and a half; yet in the 
midst of their darkness, the sky is so serene, and the moon 
and the aurora borealis so bright, that they can carry on 
their fishery, and work at their several trades in the open 
sky. The air is generally salubrious, and the inhabitants 
.in some of the interior parts, it is said, live till weary of 
life. 

Soil and Productions, The ^character of this region, in 
general, is that of a rude and steril land ; yet its south¬ 
ern portion has a large admixture of pleasant and fertile 
country. The ^harvests are precarious, and the quantity 
of grain produced is far from being adequate to the con¬ 
sumption. In the ®hilly parts the rearing of cattle is pur¬ 
sued with considerable advantage. But the most ^valua¬ 
ble production of Norway is that of its forests, consisting 
of different species of pines and firs. Tar and pitch are 
valuable articles of exportation. 

^Animals, ^^c. Wild animals are found in great abund¬ 
ance, particularly bears, wolves, lynxes, elks, rain-deer, 
gluttons, beavers, foxes, ermines, and martins; fowls both 
of the land and aquatic kind, are almost innumerable. 
There are persons who subsist by catching them. These 
people display the most astonishing dexterity in ascend¬ 
ing the cliffs of the rocks, where the eagle and other large 
birds deposite their eggs. 

The sea coast of Norway is frequented by shoals of fish 
of various species, which greatly contribute to the suste¬ 
nance of the inhabitants, and afford employment to a num¬ 
ber of hardy mariners. The rocky shores are particular¬ 
ly ^favourable to the breeding of shell fish : large quanti¬ 
ties of fine lobsters are exported to supply the luxury of 
the English metropolis. 

Minerals. Norway is rich in minerals. Gold has been 
discovered, but not to any considerable amount. The sil¬ 
ver mines of Konigsburg were formerjy reckoned the rich¬ 
est of thatujetal in Europe, and employed 4000 men; but 
now it is supposed they barely defray the expense of work¬ 
ing. Copper is yielded in large quantities by mines in 
the district of Drontheim ; but of all the Norwegian mines, 
those of iron are esteemed ihe^most profitable. Norway 
also produces ujagneis, and the asbestos, which may be 
Woven into cloth that will resist the action of fire. 

Chief Towns. Bergen is the ^capital, defended on the 
land side by high mountains, constantly overhung with 


DENMARK. 


211 


clouds which descend upon fhe town in frefjuent rains. 
All the churches and publick edifices, as well as many of 
the private houses, a e built of stone. Idiis city carries 
on a large trade in all kinds of fish, fish-oil, tallovv, hides, 
tar and timber, 'fhe population is computed at about 
18,000. The harbour is one of the best in Europe. 

Christiana^ situated in a fertile and most delightful 
country, cor tains abrmt 11,000 inhabitants, and is un¬ 
questionably the most beautiful city of Norway, 'fhe 
view from the hills above the town is describerl as the 
most beautiful that can be conceived. This city being 
situated almost in the centre of the iron and copper 
mines, the export of metals is considerable ; but tar, 
planks, and boards, are its ^staple commodities. 

Drontheimy the most northern town of any note in the 
world, except Torneo and Archangel, was the residence 
of the ancient kings of Norway, it contains two churcluis, 
besides a number of other publick buildings. The number 
of inhabitants is computed at about 9000. Its exports 
and imports occupy from 4 to 500 ships annually. In 
the month of July, 1685, the king of Denmark, Christian 
V. passed a few days in this place, and supped at mid¬ 
night without candle-lights, the twilight being sufficient-^ 

Iv luminous. 

•/ _ 

Jnhabifants. The Norwegians, in general, are strong, 
robust, and brave, but quick in their resentments. Their 
usual dress is of a stone colour with red button-holes, and 
white metal buthms. Their ^bread consists of flat cakes, 
of oatmeal,and in times of great scarcity it is mingled with 
the white, inner bark of trees. They liave but few fields, 
or gardens to cultivate, and fur their living are obliged 
to sp^nd much of their time in hunting and rishing. 
They are justly’famed for honesty and industry, and re¬ 
tain theirstrengthsolong,thata Norwegian is notsupposed 
incapable of labour, till he is upwards of 100 years old. 

DENMARK. 

Soil and Face of the Country. The ’soil in general Is 
rather sandy, ami the ’appearance of the country low and 
flat, except the eastern part, which is somewhat hilly. 
The roads in general are not very good. All tlie streams' 
are small ; the Eyder is the must’considerable river.— 
In the northern part there is a large creek of the sea, 
called Lymford, which is navigable, and of more tlian 
70 miles extent into the land. The^country is by no 
rcinaikablti lor its fertility. The ^least produciivb- 


feftNMARK. 


tracts are in the northern parts of Jutland. The islands 
of Zealand and Funen ai e l epi esented is fertile and pUias- 
ant, consistin;L5 of fields separated bj mud walls, and in¬ 
terspersed with cottages of brick, and firielv diversified 
with vales and gently swelling hiils, interspersed with 
woods of beach and oak. 'The i = le of Funen in particu¬ 
lar is well cultivat’d Holstein, which is that part of 
He iimark situated between tlie river Ryder and the 
^abounds in rich marshes, on wnicn are fatted great num¬ 
bers of cattle. 

Climate. The ’climate of Denoiark Proper is variable 
and moist, but rather temperate on account of tiie vapour 
of the surrounding sea. In the nortiiern pains, however, 
the winter is often very severe, and the entrance of the 
Baltic through the Sound has baen at time" so comp etely 
frozen over as to be crossed by heavy loaded cuniages. 
Spring and autumn are seasons scarcely known in Den¬ 
mark, on account of the sudden traiisi»io't- from cold to 
heat, and from heat to cold. The country being fl it and 
ahou'ulitig in bogs and morasses, it is extremely ’subject 
to logs and damp air. 

‘^Prjdnctions. Wheat, rye, barley, and oats are pro¬ 
duced ill such abundant e as to supply Norway, and fre¬ 
quently to export to other countrips in considerable quan¬ 
tities. Hiips are cultivated in Funen ; tobacco in Jut¬ 
land, Zealand, and Falster ; rape seed in ^leswick and 
Holst in. Madder thrives very well near Copenlijgen. 
But the Danish tanners are ’chiefiy known as evcehent 
graziers. The horses, especially those of I he lIol"t in 
breed, are large and fine. 'flie king is said to have 
above "2000, among which is a breed remarkable for be¬ 
ing of a milk white colour. The horned cattle are also 
large and numerous. 

Maaujactures, The most ’extensive manufactures in 
D -nmark are those of leatiier, calicoes, cotton and worst¬ 
ed stockings. The Danes also in i-iufacture woollen and 
linen clotha, but not in sufficient quantities for home con¬ 
sumption ; likewise all sorts of silks, chiefiv ribands, lace, 
earthen and China ware, paper, muske^^, and gunpowder. 

Commerce. Dcn'.nurk has an extensive sea coast, which 
affords uncommon conveniences for trade. Her principal 
’exports are grain to Noi way and other countries ; hoiacs 
to Germany, France, Russia and Sweden ; uxen to 
Holland and Germany ; live hogs and bacon to Norway 
and the Baltic. 'Fhe ’imports are chiefly wine, brandy, 
oil, tobacco, suit, sugar, spices, silk and woollen clotbii 


DENMARK. 


215 - 

Chief Towns. Copenhagen., the capital, is beautifullj 
^situaieil on the island Zealand, and makes a very mag¬ 
nificent appearance, being enibellished with several pal¬ 
aces, a university, 19 churches, 4 royal forts or castles, 
and some hospitals. It contains 186 streets, many of 
which are furnished with canals ; a harbour capable of 
contatning 500 vessels, and a naval arsenal, pronounced 
superior to that of Venire. The publick places are filled 
with officers either in the land or sea service : the police is 
extremelv regular ; and the road for shippin®:, which be¬ 
gins about two miles from the town, is defended by 90 
pieces of cannon. Ihe city is regularly fortified, and 
contains 105,000 iidiabifants. 

A small island called Amack, joined to Copenhagen br 
a bridge, supplies this city twice a week with all sorts of 
VPitetables, and also with milk, butter, and cheese. It is 
occupied -t«y the descendants of a colony from the north 
of Holland, who enjoy some particular privileges, and 
retain the ancient dress of their progenitors. 

About 20 miles from the metropolis stands the royal 
palace of hVedericksburg, a very extensive and splendid 
building before it was partly consumed by fire in 1794. 

'Fhe ’other places most worthy of notice are Elsineur 
and C^onenburg on the island Zealand. Altona on the 
river Elbe, about two miles from Hamburg, and Tonin- 
gen on the Eyder, near its mouth in the German ocean. 

^/nhabitants,, ^'C. The Danes are in general tall, and well 
made ; their features are regular, their complexions tlor- 
id, and their hair inclining to yellow and red. In gener¬ 
al. they are religious without being superstitious, and 
their morals, upon the. whole, tolerably pure. The’pre¬ 
dominant vices of the lower classes are laziness, gluttony, 
and an excessive fondness for spirituous liquors; that of 
the higher orders, the love of show and pleasure. All 
ranks are equally attentive to strangers. Hospitality and 
affability ’characterize all classes. 

The ’favourite diversions of the Danes are the theatre, 
cards, musick ; and in winter, driving in sledges on the 
snow. French dresses are generally adopted by both 
sexes in summer, but the severity of winter obliges them 
to wrap themselves up in wool and fur like their neigh¬ 
bours. 

Languages., Their language is Teutonic ; but 

French arnl High Dut. h are spoten by tlie nobility, and 
English is publickly taught at Copenhagen, as an essential 


^14 


DENMARK. 


part of a superior education. The established religion 
is Lutheranism, but other sectaries are tolera'ed. 

Literature. The arts and sciences flourish to a consid¬ 
erable degree in Denmark, although their introduction 
cannot aspire to much antiquity, having followed ii< usual 
the introduction of Christianity, ' hich u as rrot establish¬ 
ed till the 1 Ifh century. There is a university at ('open^ 
hasten, and another at Kiel ; two or three schools are pro¬ 
vided in each parish, where children are tau'.dit reading, 
writing, and the common principles of Arithmetick. A 
jiu.Mber of Latin schools are also maintained at tlie royal 
exf'ense. 

Fi/rtign Possessions. These are Greenland, Iceland, 
and the Fei'oe Islands. 

ICELAND. This island is about 260 milt sin length, 
and about ^OO in breadth j but its inhabitants are supposed 
Dot to exteetl 50,000. Ridges of lotiy mountains traverse 
the country, and give it a most desolate apjiearanee. 
Many of them are volcanic, the most ^famous of which is 
Mount liecla, about one mile high, wiiose summit is cov¬ 
ered with uerpetual snow, except where it is melted by 
the subterraneous heat. Its craters are numerous, al¬ 
though tlie etoptions are not frequent, notie having hap¬ 
pened from l69 > to <766, when it emitted flames accom¬ 
panied with a torrent of lava. The most dreadful erup¬ 
tion, of which we have a particular account, was in 1783, 
wliich, however, appears not to have proceeded from any 
Diountain. The lava broke out from the earth in three 
different places, and is said to have covered an extent of 
S,600 square miles, in some places to the depth of 100 
feet. The whole country was filled with smi.ke, great 
Duu'bers of cattle were destroyed, and 240 persons lost 
their lives. 

In this island are many hot and ’boiling springs, whicli 
spout up their water to an almost increilible height. One 
of these called Geyskr, makes a noise like tlie roaring of 
a cataract. The aperture from whicIi the water issues is 
19 feet in diameter. Tlirough this aperture the water 
spouts up vvith great violence several times a day, it is 
said to the lieiglit of 90 feet. 

'rhe’clima e of Iceland is stormy ; but the C(dd, being 
mibigHted by the vapours of the sea, is less intense than 
might bv^ exp- ct.e-l fi om its si’ uation Grain cannot be 
cultivated to any a>ivaotige. 'i'here are some tolerable 
pastuica } but lUe cattle are of duuiuaUve size, and tbe 


DENMATIK. 


Q\5 

lior«es. in particular, arc remarkably small. Sheep are 
numerou'-, that a ^in^le | erson sometimes keeps three 
or tiuir hundred. Woixl doe^ not thrive, and very t'evv 
trees of any k iid are to be .seen on the island, tnouj^h the 
quatiUties fouml in many jjiaces tinder ground ii.dicate 
that it ua^ once niiAc!i more abu idant. 'Ihe ’common 
fuel of the Country is turl. 

The Icelanders are of a mitidle size, at d well made, but 
not very strong. I'heir i-vioi!; is pom. ’consisting ol milt 
fish, and vej*etab!es, with ^ome me.n. out very iitde bread. 
7 heir manners are simple an-' inotfcnsive ; they are 
strongly a t.achrd lo their country, and nevei think of 
emigra ing or travelling 'I hey ’manul. ctuie woollen 
Stockings and stone cohr.-.e wovdien clutlis, winch tfiev sell 
to the Danes fm hread. shti-s, Itiatuly, wine, iron, and 
tobacco. Tiieii other ’exjito fs aretiried fish, salieii mut¬ 
ton, beefi butler, rrain oil, leathei s and quills Iceland 
lias more than mice lieen expos* d it» all the hmrois uf 
famine.— Tiiese calamnios have been caiistd trom the 
in.mense quantities ol n e tlriiting on its slmies from 
Greenland, which sometimes r*-m.iining unthawed during 
many tmths, (»r evon do wiuile s.immer, not tmly pre¬ 
vent all stjpjilies Iron) abroad, by leiioeiing the coast of 
ddficult and dang- rous acce-s, but put at. entire stop to 
the fishit g, ami at the same time geneiale a ct*!*! so ex- 
ces.-ivt as to ties'ro\ all vegetation, and prove latai to 
animal life. The nummous white bears which anixe 
witli the ice are also exiiu'inelv desiiuttive l*> catde 

I'he FKuoh Islands have the a|'i^’urance ol mouni. iiis 
or hills boitih eoiet’'»ing from the sea, m p.u’.itetl tit»m <»iie 
ano hei b\ deej ctiaiii.els s e ept b\ l api t urr nts. A dUt 
]7ol tlie.se islaiulsare habitalile. I heir shallow', huiliuit- 
ful soil,’y leld" barle:, ami good pa'iui age lor sin ep, with 
which they abound. the rt.t. k v cnils ai e dn les it of 
great tlock'; ol sea fowl, uliicli tempi the innauitaois 
to ext I aoi (linarv exertions foi the-xtikt it their e^gs, flesh, 
and feathers, lo no counliy is the haz.ntlou.'* business ot 
fu\N ling conducted with no>» e skill ami inirepniily ; aii<t me 
most tremendous piecij.'ires are eidier scaieil Irmn beii»\v, 
by men raised b\ the po;es < f ‘lien* comjianions, or are 
readied from abiive by those w lio are let ilov> n by means 
of ropes fastened about tlieir waists, d'he helicate r.ii/Lii. 
Dow'.v, produced trmn wiiat istalletl the eo;er uuck, isuiiO 
of die must ’valuable articles of these isiaaUs. 


216 


SWEDEN. 


SWEDEN. 

^Fdce of the Country. Sweden is, in general, a moua- 
tainous country, its surface is greatly diversified with 
numerous lakes, clear rivers, rushing cataracts, gloomy 
forests, rugged rocks, verdant vales, and well cultivated 
fields. A ^striking characteristic of the country in many 
parts, is the frequency of detached masses of rock, start¬ 
ing out of the gtound. and impaning a singularly wild 
and ru^rged appearance to the landscape. 

^Climate. Sweden enjoys a much milder temperature 
than those countries of Asia and America, which have the 
same latitude. It is, however, a cold country ; and the 
winter, particularly in the northern part, is long and ex¬ 
tremely severe. The gulf of Bothnia becomes a vast 
field of ice, and is crossed by travellers in sledges. 

Spring and autumn are seasons hardly known in this 
country ; summer bursts suddenly from winter, and vege¬ 
tation is quick and rapid. The labours of agriculture are 
crowded into the short ^space of about three months, and 
in this season the inhabitants both sow and reap. But 
the summer, though short, is rendered liot by the length, 
of the days, and tTie reflections of the sun-beams from the 
numerous hills and mountains. 

Soil and Productions. The soil is not the most propi¬ 
tious. Incredible pains, however, have been taken by tne 
Swedes of late to correct its natural sterility ; and the in¬ 
stitution of agricultural societies has been attended with 
9 uch success, that some of the vallies have become ex¬ 
tremely fertile. It is supposed, that in the south of Swe¬ 
den by draining, and othei improvements, a sufficient 
quantity of wheat might be raised to supply the wliole 
kingdom. The ^produce of grain, however, is not suffi¬ 
cient for the supply of the inhabitants. Hemp and flax 
are considerable products, and in the vicinity of Stock¬ 
holm, tobacco. 

Sweden ^abounds in forests, principally of pine and fir. 
These afford an inexhaustible supply of ma»ts for ship¬ 
ping, and planks for various uses ; while the tar, turpen¬ 
tine, and pitch, extracted from the trees, are almost of 
equal value with the timber. Wild cherry and plum trees 
grow up to the 60th degree of latitude. Strawberries and 
whcu’tle-berries are in plenty over the whole country, and 
currants are found even In Lapland. The rivers of Swe¬ 
den are rapid, anu supply abundance of fish 5 Uutthe nume- 


SWEDEN. Sir, 

rous rocks and shoals which are found in them, render 
most of them unfit for the purpose of navigation. 

Minerals, The principal ’sources of wealth in Sweden 
are her mines, chiefly of copper and iron. Only one gold 
mine has yet been discovered, and that very inconsidera¬ 
ble ; a mine of silver is more profitable,its annual produce 
being valued at 20,000 crowns. A copper mine near the 
town of Falun is supposed to have been worked nearly 
1000 years. The mouth of this mine presents a vast 
chasm, nearly three quarters of a mile in circumference, 
of which the perpendicular depth is about 1,020 feet. 
Some of the mountains consist of almost one entire mass 
of iron ore. Nearly 500 forges are said to be employed 
in the manufacture of this metal. The whole number of 
miners in Sweden is computed at 25,000. 

Roads, <5'C. The high ’roads in Sweden are remarka¬ 
bly good^ being made of stone and gravel, and are not 
inferior to the turnpikes in our own country, although no 
toll is exacted fiom the traveller. 

There are many seats scattered over the face of the 
country, where gentlemen reside on their estates in rural 
plenty. These seats, being an assemblage of wooden 
buildings painted red, make a neat appearance, and con¬ 
tribute greatly to the ornament of the country. 

Manufactures. I'he Swedish manufactures are not nu¬ 
merous. Those of iron and steel are the most’consider¬ 
able. Fhe manufactures of copper and brass, and the 
building«)f.ships likewise,employ a great number of hands. 
There are some also of cloth, hats, watches, an«l sail cloth^ 
in 1785 it was supposed that 14,000 persons ^vere em¬ 
ployed in the manufactures of wool, silk, and cotton. 

Lominerce. The commerce of Sweden is far from be¬ 
ing important. It ’consists chiefty in the exports of her. 
native productions, iron, timber, pitch, tar, hemp, and 
copper. Herrings have long formed a considerable arti¬ 
cle, but the fishery has much declined. The ’principal 
imports are grain of various kinds, particularly rye, to¬ 
bacco, sugar, coffee, drugs, silk, and wine. 

Chief To ions. Stockholm, the capital, contains 76,000 
inhabitants. It is ’situated at the junction of lake Malar 
with the Baltic, on 7 small islands, united by bridges. 
I'he harbour, though deep, is somewhat difficult of access, 
and during four months in the year is blocked up with 
ice. The buildings are mostly of stone, or of brick stuc¬ 
coed, and stained of a white or yellowish colour. At 

T 


S18 


SWKDEN. 


the extremity of the harbour, the streets rise one above 
another in the form of an amphitlieatre, aral tlie pelai e, a 
magnificent building, crowns t’ne summit. There are ^rwo 
superb statues in this city, one of Gustavus Adolj hus, 
and another of tlie late Gustavus III. in bronze, erected 
by the citizens, at an expense of 144.000 dollars. Its ar¬ 
senal is famous, and contains a long line of the eflSgies of 
the kings of Sweden, in the armour wliich they actually 
•wore, all arranged in chronoloffical order ; here also are 
to be seen the very clothes which the famous Charles XII. 
had on when he was killed at Fiederickstadt. 

Upsal is ’famous for its university. 'Most of the 
houses, except the colleges, are of wood, painted red, with 
high grass growing on the tops, a thing r ery common in 
Sweden. The cathedral is a vast pile of brick, with two 
square towers. The interior is handsome, and is adorn¬ 
ed with a most magnificent organ. Population, 4,500. 

Gottenhurg is the ’second city for trade and population. 
It is the seat of the Swedish East India Company, and 
carries on a'great trade in iron, and a very extensive her¬ 
ring fishery. A water communication between this place 
and the capital has been opened. Population, 22,000. 
Carhcrona is ’noted as being the station of the royal 
navy ; its docks, hewn in the rock, are works of 
vast magnitude Flax, iron, and linen cloth, are its 
chief ’exporis. Tornea has a good harbour. Here the 
Laplanders, Norwegians, and Russians, resort to barter 
their fur.s fi»r olher articles. 

Inhabitants^ Manners^ and Customs* The Swedes, in 
general, are well foimed, and ot a graceful appearance. 
They are cheeiful, healthy, and courageous, and particu¬ 
larly hospitable and kind to stran£.ers. Thefts, murders, 
and atiotious crimes are very uncommon among them. 
Disputes are rare in country places, and generally finish¬ 
ed without the aid of lawyers. The only vice which 
may in some degree be called national, is an intemperate 
use of spirituous liquors, which is common with most 
northern nations. 

Fondness for convivial pleasure, music, and dancing, is 
a ’leading feature in the Swedish character. Two days 
in the year, the first of May and midsummer, are in Swe¬ 
den particularly consecrated to publick mirth and joy. 

The peasants are frugal and industrious, and live in the 
plainest manner. They are well clad in strong cloth of 
their own making. Their cottages, though built of wood, 
and only one story high, are comuirtable and commodious. 


RUSSIA. 


219 


The nobility and gentry of both sexes are for the most 
part v\ell e<*ucated and liighly accomplished, many of 
thetii speaking English, French, and German, with fluen¬ 
cy. 'I'hey have very much the manners of the French, 
and are addicted to luxury. 

Education. Schools are provided in almost every par- " 
isK. Nearly all the Swedes can read, and the greater 
part can write. 1 lie universities are three. There are 
also 12 literary academies, most of which publish me¬ 
moirs of their transactions. 

RUSSIA. 

Mountains. The ^principal mountains are the great 
Uralian Chain, about 1400 miles in length, of moderate 
elevation, forming a marked boundary between Europe 
and Asia. These mountains are rich in metals, chiefly of 
gold, copper, and iron, and are adorned with woods most¬ 
ly of pine, fir, birch, cedar, and larch. 

^Face of the Country. Russia is mostly a level country. 
That part west of the Uralian mountains is, in general, a 
vast plain, elevated towards the centre, and thence gent¬ 
ly descending towards the north and west. 

Rivers. Of these, the ’principal is the Volga., comput¬ 
ed at 1700 miles in length, and navigable nearly to its 
source The Don., by the ancients called the Tanais, is a 
large navigable river, ’noted for its violent inundations. 
In Its course towards the east, it approaches so near the 
Volga, that Peter the Great had undertaken to form a 
communication between them by means of a canal, which 
was reported to be in contemplation under the late 
emperor Alexander. The Dnieper, another large river 
of Europe, is navigable from Smolensk near its source, 
to Kiotv, where there is a bridge of boats, 1638 feet 
in length. Below this place its navigation for some 
distance is impeded by cataracts, after which it is again 
navigable to its mouth. The Duna, or southern Dvvina, 
as it is sometimes called, is a ’navigable river its whole 
extent. Its width at Riga is about 900 paces. Here a 
bridge of pontoons is thrown across the river annually in 
April, and taken away again in November. The north*- 
ern Dwina has a ’navigable course of about 500 miles. 
The Neva is that river through which the Ladoga lake 
discharges its waters into the gulf of Finland, and on 
which Petersburg is situated. It is about 40 miles in 
1 ength, of considerable width and depth, and ’subject tO 
great floods. 


220 


RUSSIA 


Climate. Russia, extending from the Frozen Ocean to 
the Black sea, necessarily exhibits a great diversity of 
climate. In all the ^northern parts, the cold in winter is 
■very terrible. Birds, in the act of %ing, have sometimes 
been known to drop down dead from the atmosphere in con¬ 
sequence of it. The peasants, wdio usually wear their 
beards in Russia, have them hanging to their chins like solid 
lumps of ice ; drivers of carriages are frequently frozen to 
death upon their seats without being able to change their 
position ; and boiling water, thrown up w ith an engine, so 
as to spread, has been known to freeze before it fell to the 
ground. At Petersburg only two months in the year are 
entirely free from snow. Violent storms are frequent, 
and when these come from the south-w^est, they cause 
great inundations by the overflowing of the Neva. At 
iloscow the winter sets in about the middle of November, 
and lasts till the middle of March, attended with copious 
fails of snow. Even in the southern parts, the winters, 
though short, are somewhat severe. From some degrees 
to the south of Moscow, all nortiiern Russia has only tw o 
seasons, the transition from winter to summer, and again 
from summer to winter, being so sudden, that spring and 
autumn are unknown. Russia in general has a dry ^at¬ 
mosphere, and the ’air is pure and salubdous.^ 

Soil. The soil in this exteo.-ive empire is as various 
as the climate. All the ’norihei n coast to a great extent 
inland, is an imuiense swamp, wholly grown over with 
moss, ile>.tifnre ot woo<l, and almost perpetually frozen, 
being thawed in summer only to a very small depth. 
The ’middle provinces have a much better soi), while the 
southern parts difoday the greatest fertility. Between 
the and the Fo/ga,from Voroaetz to Simbrisk. the soil 
consists of a black mould, strongly impregnated vvirh salt¬ 
petre, and is extremely fertile, producing the most luxu¬ 
riant vegetation. This is generally esteemed the ’best 
portion of Russia. 

Productions. Grain and pasturage are the ’general 
leatures ot Russian farming. In the northern parts, so far 
as the latitude of Petersburg, rje is cultivated •, in the 
middle and southern regions, wheat; Taurida, which is 
the most southern province, comprehending the penin¬ 
sula of Crimea^ produces some Indian corn j the culture 
of the vine and the olive also succeeds here. Barley is 
a general product. Hemp and flax constitute an import¬ 
ant object ol Russian agriculture. Tobacco has lately 


RUSSIA. 


221 


been ciiUivated ; potatoes bear the cold of Archanf^el, 
'and yi^-kJ from thirty to fifty fold. Rhubarb, madder, 
wax and honey, are also considerable products. In the 
middle and southern parts are large orchards. Apples 
and pears are found as far north as’49 degrees ; cherries 
and plums as far as 55°, Agriculture, however, as yet 
is but little understood in this country. 

I'hroughout the whole empire, much excellent pasture 
is found, and horses, cattle, and sheep, are in tolerable 
plenty. Goats and swine every where aOound. Of the 
*w'ild animals, particularly valuable for their furs, are the 
black fox, the sable, the martin, and the ermine. 

Minerals. The ’principal mines of Russia are in Sibe¬ 
ria. 'J'hese are a great source of wealth to the nation. 
The Uralian mountains and their vicinity are the centre 
ot the mining country. Gold, some silver, copper and 
iron are the metals chiefly extracted there ; and the 
foundries for the two latter are very numerous. 

Canals. The canals of this empire are of great impor¬ 
tance. By means of that of Cefni Vololchok, goods may 
be conveyed up the Volga from Aslrachan to Petersburg, 
a distance of 1434 tniles. The navigation requires for its 
performance a fortnight, three weeks, or a month, accord¬ 
ing to the season of the year, and nearly 4000 vessels are 
supposed annually to pass this way. A canal also leads 
from Moscow to the Don^ opening a communication with 
the Black sea. There is likewise a water communication 
by means of rivers from the frontiers of China to Peters¬ 
burg, with the interruption of only about GO miles. 

Manufactures. Russia possesses a variety of manufac¬ 
tures. '1 hat of izinglass, which is a preparation of the 
sounds or air bladder of the sturgeon, ’flourishes on the 
Volga. The manufactures of od, soap, and candles at 
Petersburg, are very considerable, and contribute in no 
small degree to its exports. There are also in various 
parts manufactures of salt-petre, paper and tobacco. Lin¬ 
en is manufactured in abundance ; the best comes from 
the government of Archangel. Colton is little wrought; 
but the manufactures of silk are numerous. Coarse 
cloths, carpets, hats, porcelain, and earthen ware, are 
made in Russia, and leather has long been a staple com¬ 
modity. Russia produces vast quantities of wax ; iron 
foundries abound every where ; cannon are cast at Pe¬ 
tersburg ; at Tula there is a vast manufactory of fire and 
side arms, which employs upwaads of 4000 workmen. 

T 2 


222 


RUSSIA. 


Commerce. Russia has an extensive commerce. That 
with Europe and America is carried on principally through 
the Baltic^ and the White Seas^hy way of Petersburg. Riga., 
and Jirchangel. The ^articles exported are chiefly hernp^ 
flax, diflerent kinds ofgrain, tallow, hides, sail-cloth, tim¬ 
ber, tar, iron, anniseed, train-oil, hemp-oil, linens, wax, 
and fur. la return for which, they ’import woollen 
cloths, silk, cotton, brandy, sugar, wine and coffee. 

The commerce of Russia with Persia and China, ’carried 
on by the way of Astrachan through the Caspian sea, is 
also very considerable, as is likewise that with Turkey 
through the Black Sea. Russia likewise carries on a com¬ 
merce over land, by caravans, to China, chiefly in furs ; 
and they bring back from thence, tea,silk,cotton and gold. 

The various productions of this vast empire, in order 
to get to market, are first brought from different places 
to fairs established in different parts of the country, where 
the merchants buy them up, and forward them to differ¬ 
ent ports or other trading towns for exportation. 

Cities. St. Petersburg^ the capital, is a beautiful and 
extensive city, ’founded by Peter the Great in 1703, upon 
an island in the middle of the Neva, between the gulf of 
Finland and the lake of Ladoga. It contains a university, 
a military academy, a convent for the education of young 
ladies, a foundling hospital, five palaces, thirty-five hand¬ 
some churches, besides many other magnificent structures. 
The houses are mostly four ’stories high, built of brick 
stuccoed ; the streets are long and broad. In this city 
there is a famous statue in bronze of Peter the Great. 
The rock which serves for its pedestal weighs, by calcu¬ 
lation, 1,428 tons, and was transported to Petersburg, 9 
miles, partly by land and partly by water. The number 
of inhabitants, is 285,000. 

Petersburg is frequented by a great number of trading 
vessels from other nations, especially from Great Britain. 
Large ships, however, cannot get over the bar of the Neva, 
but remain at Cronstadt, a port on an island in the gulf, 20 
miles below, which is also the ’station of the men-of-war. 

Moscow, the ancient capital, situated on a river of the 
same name, is 26 miles in circu ruference. On approach¬ 
ing the city, its gilded domes and glittering spires make 
a most striking and splendid app^^arance. It is the centre 
of trade for all the interior of Russia. About three fourths 
of thi>. city was burnt in 1812, wiien the French invaded 
■Russia, since which time it has been rebuilt. In this city 


RUSSIA. 


223 


there is a famous bell, the largest in the world. It is 19 
feet in height, and 21 yards in circumference at the bot- 
tonn Its greatest tliickness, is 21 inches, and it weighs 
432,000 pounds. The beam on which it hung, being 
burnt, it fell, and a large piece was broken out of it, so 
that it now lies in a manner useless. The ^climate of 
Moscow is extremely salubrious ; tlie number of its in¬ 
habitants is about 250,000. 

Odessa is a new city situated on the Black sea, and is 
the ’second, in point of commerce in tlie empire. 

the ’third town, in a commercial view, is mucli 
freijuented by foreign merchants, who export from it 
large quantities of naval stores, grain and other products 
of the country. Its population is estimated at 36,000. 

JirchangeU notwithstaiuling the shoit period of the year 
in which it is accessible, carries on a considerable trade 
in the eiiports anil imports of tliat part of the Russian do¬ 
minions. Very large ships built ot fir and larch at a great 
distance up'the Dwina, are among its exported articles. 
It si 400 miles N. E. of St. Petersburg, and contains 
7,200 inhabitants. 

Tula contains 30,000 inhabitants. Cherson, on the 
Black Sea, has greatly declined. Caffa, in the Crimea, 
is a free port, and a principal commercial town. 

InhubilanlSy ^-c. Russia includes a variety of nations, 
although subject to one government, whose language, 
manners and habits of life are totally distinct, and many 
of which are yet in a state of extreme barbarism. 

The ’Slavonic Russians, ot which the great mass of the 
population consists, are a hardy and vigorous people, well 
featured, of a good stature, cheerful, patient of fatigue, 
and implicitly submissive to discipline. The ladies have 
fine complexiojis naturally, which however they ruin by 
paint, 'riie higher classes are ’distinguished by their 
magnificence, sociability, and hospitality. A strong pro¬ 
pensity for kt'eping numerous retinues and brilliant equi¬ 
pages is every where prevalent ; and splendid entertain¬ 
ments, with gaming, are much in fashion. 

I’he peasants, or boors, as they are called in this coun¬ 
try, in winter, wraj) themselves in sheep-skins, with 
the wool turned in. 'I'he lower classes have no beds, but 
sleep on the lloor, or on a platform of boards j and in 
summer very often in the open air. Intoxication is a 
common vice. 


£24 


RtJSSIA. 


The Russians are extremely fond of vocal music. N 0 
where is the song more jovial or more universal. Next 
to singing, (lancing is the most general amusement. The 
rin^ii' g of bells is also a recreation in which they take 
great delight. Of all the Russian customs, none merits 
greater attention thaii the universal use of the hot vapour 
ba-h, v\hich they consider as a remedy or preventive of 
almost every disease. 

Jieligion. The established religion is the Greek 
church, but little diftering from Popery ; but all others 
are , ermitted and protected. 

Literature. 'I’he literature of Russia is yet in its infan¬ 
cy : it is, however, advancing in improvement, and much 
attention is paid to popular in>truction. 

Government. This extensive country is und?r the gov¬ 
ernment ol one monarch, called the emperor of all Rus¬ 
sia. Alexander, the late emperor, who died in Nov. 
1825, was born in \777. Under his efficient and mild 
reign, Russia extended her dominions, rapidly rose to mil¬ 
itary greatness, and increased in improvements, popula¬ 
tion, and national importance. Hi:^ bimther Nicholas is 
his successor. Russia in 1808. concpiered Finland from 
Sweden, and incorporated it with hei empiie. 

Jirmy. I'he whole amount of the Russian army, in 
1819, was 778,000. About loO.OuO, it is supposed, are 
necessary in the garrisons scattered over this vast empire. 

Navy, 'fhe Russian navy in 1820, besides small 
ships and gallies, consisted of SO ships of the line, and 
20 frigates. It is now rapidly increasing. 

Curiosities. Among the natural luriosities of Russia, 


®'most deserving of notice, are the mountains of ice which 
float in the Frozen Ocean. Some of these are many miles 
in extent and of an astonishing height, being formed by 
the aggregation of vast fields of ice forcing one under 
another, and thus raising the immense mass Higher out of 
the water, where it receives an additional increase from 
the successive falls of siiovv. Some of these floating 
mountains are 10 or 1200 feet in height, resembling vast 
cathedrals, adorned with pinnacles, presenting a thousand 
fantastic shapes, and reflecting a thousand colours from 
the rays of the sun, or the aurora borealis. 

In 1740, the empress Anne built a palace of icc on the 
banks of the Neva, which, when illuminated, had a sur¬ 
prising effect* 


POLAND 


PRUSSIA. 


225 


POLAND, 

PRINCIPALLY BELONGING TO RUSSIA. 

Poland was once a formidable kingdom. In 1773 sev¬ 
eral of its provinces were dismembered from it by the 
empress of Russia, the emperor of Germany, and the king 
of Prussia. A similar act of violence again took place in 
1793. In 1795, the unfortunate sovereign, Stanislaus 
Augustus, was cruelly deposed, his kingdom annihilated, 
and the whole country incorporaledjnto Russia, Austria, 
and Prussia. Ry the treaty of 1815 Poland now enjoys 
her own laws under the crown of Russia. 

Poland is generally a level country, productive ingrain 
and in grass. 

the capital, is a large city, surrounded by a 
moat antf a double vvall. It has a melancholy appearance, 
exhibiting tite strong contrast of wealtli and poverty, 
luxury and distress, wi»ich pervade every part of this un¬ 
happy country. Population 66,000. 

Cracow^ an independent city, now contains many spa- 
ciotis and hafjdscune vS^rcets, but almost every budding 
bears the marks of ruined iiiandeur Here most of the 
sovereigns (»f Poland were both crowned and interred. 
Population 25,000. 

'The ’'Poles are fair in their complexion, well propor¬ 
tioned ami handsome ; active, brave, honest, hospitable, 
and enterprising ; but rasli and unsteady. There are 
many Jews in Poland. 

Near (-racow are ^the famous mines of rock salt, said 
to be the most extensive of the kind in Europe. They 
are vvrmight under ground to a vast depth and compass, 
])resenting spacious chambers, long galleries, massy 
pillars, and even whole edifices lievvn in the solid rock, 
which, when illuminated by lamps, afford scenes of extra¬ 
ordinary splendour. 

PRUSSIA. 

The kingdom of Prussia, which commenced with the 
eighleentli century, by gradual accc'isions became so ex¬ 
tensive, as deservedly to rank among the first powers 
of Europe. Rut in* 1807, this kingdom was greatly 
reduced, the king, Frederick William IV. having been 
compelled to suricnder, m obedience to the dictates oC 



226 


PRUSSIA. 


France, nearly half of his possessions, and about the same 
propo' tion of his subjects. 

Ill the great stru'^gle, however, against the power of 
France, for the independence of Europe, Prussia acted 
a very distinguished part. Her arms, together with those 
of tlie Allies, having been crowned with the most perfect 
success, the late treaty at Vienna, which settles tlie state 
of Europe, restores to Prussia most of her lost, together 
with other territories, by which she has regained her for- 
, nier consequence among the nations of Europe. 

^Fuce of the Country. Prussia displays no grand fea¬ 
tures of nature, nor any great variety of aspect. The 
whole country, except a part of Silesia, is generally level, 
and in mav.y places covered with thick forests. 

Climate. The ^climate of all the countries bordering on 
the Pahic, is in general cold and moist. Prussia Proper 
is deluged with rain in the autumn, and has about eight 
months of winter. Pomerania and Brandenburg are some¬ 
what more free from humidity. Silesia excels all the 
other Prussian provinces in the purity and wholesomeness 
of its air, but the western and southern parts, which lie 
near the mountains, are exposed even in summer to sharp 
freezing winds. 

Soil. The ’soil of the Prussian provinces varies between 
the two extremes of barrenness and fertility. Branden¬ 
burg is a sandy, barren country 5 Prussia Proper is also 
sandy, but more fertile. The northern extremity of Sile¬ 
sia partakes of the sandy soil of Brandenburg, but the 
greatest part of the province displays a remarkable fer¬ 
tility. Silesia is, on the whole, the ’most fertile and 
I healthful, as well as the most diversified and agreeable 
province of the Prussian dominions. 

Productions. The ’vegetable productions of the Prus¬ 
sian dominions consist chiefly of grain and pasturage. 
Vines are produced in Silesia, and some wine is made, but 
of an inferior quality. 

The most distinguished mineral production of Prussia 
is amber, Ibund on the coasts of the 13altic. Coal is found 
in various parts of Silesia. 

Manufactures and Commerce. The Prussian manufac¬ 
tures produce a variety of articles for home consumption, 
such as glass, iron, paper, woollen cloth, and some silk. 
There is also a China loanufacture at Berlin. But the 
most ’important of all the Prussian manufactures are the 
linens of Silesia, of which a considerable quantity is ex¬ 
ported. The ’chief commerce of Prussia is 111 grain. 


NETHERLANDS. 


2S7 


Chief Towns, Berlin^ the capital, a beautiful and 
magnificent city ^situatefl on the river 8 pree, cojitaiuing 
about 188,000 inhabitants. It has a free coiinnunication. 
by canals with the Oder and the Fllbe. 'The stieets are 
spacious and well paved, although tlie country foi 50 ndles 
scarcely produces a single stone. Its nu uerous gardens 
and plantations of trees give it a rural appearance. 'I Ke 
houses are generally large and welhbuilt of brick stuccoed. 
The royal palace is an enormous square pile of stones. 

Konigaburg. on the river Pregel, contains 59,000 inhab¬ 
itants. It is well fortified, and carries on a considerable 
trade. Breslaw^ in Sile>ia, is a beautiful city, and has sev¬ 
eral manufactures, especially of linen, anil a university. 
Its population is about 76,000. Elhing, situated on an arm. 
of 111 le river Vistula, called the river Elbing, contains a- 
bout 19,000 inhabitants, and carries on an extensive com¬ 
merce. 'Vessels of 100 tons come up to the town. It is 
also the seat of several manufactures. Stettin carries on 
an extensive commerce. Its population is about 22 , 000 . 
Potsdam, about 6 miles from Berlin, is a recent city. It 
contains the royal palace of Sans Souci, a most noble 
structure, and was lately the favourite residence of the 
Prussian monarchs. No expense has been spared in its 
decorations. Its population is about 23,000. iiranden^ 
burg, on the Havel, has several manufactures of cloth, fus¬ 
tian, and canvass, and contains about 13,000 inhaoitants. 

JJanfzic^ is the ^principal port for the exportation of the 
grain and other products of Poland, and contains a popu¬ 
lation of about 49,000 

Inhabitants. Military bravery is the most distinguish¬ 
ing feature of the national ch.iractqr. 

Language. The language of Prussia is the German 5 
but French is universally spoken by the nobility and gen- 
try. 

lieligion. The predominant religion of Prussia is the 
Protestant ; but almost all other sects are tolerated. 

Education, <^*c. There are several universities and 
schools ; bur popular' education is generally neglected in 
Prussia, as well as in must other countries of Europe,^ 
Tlie government is an absolute hereditary monarchy. 

NETHERLANDS. 

Face of the Country. The ^face of tlie country is re¬ 
markably level and ioNV. In the northern provinces, or 


228 


JIETHERLANDS. 


Holland, it has the Appearance of a large marsh that has 
been drained, its surface in many places being lower than 
the level of the ocean, from the inundations of which it is 
secured by dykes or dams, raised at vast labour and ex¬ 
pense, some of which are 15 feet in height, and wide 
enough on the top lor two carriages to go abreast. 

Climate. The Alimate of this country is cold and hu¬ 
mid, and the aij‘foggy and unwholesome, except when it is 
purified by the frost, vhich in winter blocks up the har¬ 
bours and canals lor about 4 months. The moisture of the 
atmosphere causes metals to rust, and various other sub¬ 
stances to mould, more than in any other country of Eu¬ 
rope. . 

Productions. The Northern or Dutch provinces afford 
rich pastures, and are distinguished for their numbers of 
large and fat cattle, and the abundance and excellence of 
their butter and cheese. The soutliern or Belgic provin¬ 
ces are Aoted for the production of grain, and the im¬ 
proved state of their agriculture. Flax, hemp, madder, 
and tobacco are general products. Here are no forests ; 
turf is the Aommon fuel of the country ; all the timber, 
particularly in the northern provinces, is imported. 

Canal. Canals are almost as numerous here as roads 
are in ether countries, and they serve for the same pur¬ 
poses ; but in the summer their waters become putrid, and 
emit offensive and unwholesome vapours, very prejudicial 
to the health of the inhabitants. The ^general method of 
passing from one town to another, is by water. The pas¬ 
sengers embark in a kind of covered boat draw n by horses, 
which proceed at a slow and uniform trot. As the canals 
communicate with the Rhine and other large rivers, all 
the commodities of the world are thus conveyed at a tri- 
fling expense, into Germany and France. In the neigh¬ 
bourhood of the capital, the canals are lined for miles to¬ 
gether with elegant country houses, seated in tlie midst of 
gardens and pleasure grounds, adorned to the very edge 
of the water with temples and statues. 

Commerce and Manufactures. With respect to com¬ 
merce, the-^e provinces at a fonner period were aptly 
styled “the giand magazine of Europe,” as scarcely a 
manufacture could be nuntioued, which was not here 
estabii>hed, ora nation pointed out upon the globe, with 
which the inhabitants had no connexion. Their nume¬ 
rous population, the cheapness of labour, and the inland 
flavigation, together with the important fisheries, publick 


NETHERLANDS. 


2^9 


trading companies, various exports, and anEast India fleet, 
whicli annually brought them a rich cai'Uio of gold, dia¬ 
monds, pearls, ivory, and spices, c eiibined to elevate 
these people to a higli rank in the coirimercial world. 
But since the revolution, much of their foreiijn couimerce 
has been cut oft’. Their inland trade with France and 
Germany, by means of tlie Rliine, and canals, is still con¬ 
siderable. One of the most profitable articles of this 
trade consists in the vast floats of timber, which arrive at 
Dort from Andenac, and other places on the Rhine, and 
from the German forests. The length of these rafts is 
from 700 to 1000 feet, and the breadth from 50 to 90 feet. 
About 500 ’labourers are employed in navigating one of 
these floats, the top of vvhich is covered witli a lille vil¬ 
lage of timber liuts for their accommodation. 

The ’chief manufactures are those of linen, pottery, 
painted tiles, leather, wax, starch and paper •, also some 
•articles of woollen, ctdton, and silk. 

Cities, the capital, is an elegant, rich, and 

highly commercial city, containing about 220,000 inhab¬ 
itants. The ground on which it is situated is entirely a 
morass, and the whole city is ’built on piles of wood, 
which consist of the trunks of huge trees, driven down 
endways by the force of engines, into the boggy soil. 
The stadthouse, one of tlie ])rincipal ornaments of this 
«ity, is’supported on 14,000 of these wooden piles. The 
capital disadvantages of this city are the want of whole¬ 
some water and of good air. 

Brussels^ the largest city in the Bclgic provinces, and 
one of the most splendiil in Europe, is ’celebrated for its 
Jace, carnblets, and carpets. Population 80,000. 

Rotterdam ranks next in trade and opulence, though 
notin extent and population. It is situated on the Maese, 
and is the birth-place of the famous Erasmus, Its poipu- 
lation is 56,000. 

JMiddleburg, on the island VValcheren, is a commercial 
town, containing a population of about 17,000 inhabitants. 

The f/ague^ though considered only a village, was long 
tlie seat of government, and the residence of all the for¬ 
eign ambassadors and strangers ol distinction. It has no 
commerce ; but is ’celebrated for the magnificence and 
beauty of its buildings, and the politeness of its inliabi- 
tanis, who are computed at about 43,000. 

Leyden and Utrecht are fine cities, ’famous for their 
universities. Haerlem is ’remarkable for the beauty of 

IT - 


2S0 


FRANCE. 


its flowers, in which it carries on a great trade; for its 
bleacheries of linen ; and for the siupeudous soumls of 
the great organ in one of its churches, supposed to be 
the largest in the world. 

Inhabitant^c. The Dutch aresoniew'hat low of stat¬ 
ure and of a heavy make. The complexion of both sexes 
is almost invariably fair. Then ruling passion is the love 
of tnonev. They are remarkably neat in their furniture 
and houses, and are particularly noted for their industry 
and frugality. Skafing is their ’favourite amusement, in 
which they are uncommonly expert, and the cai ols in 
winter are covered with all ranks, and of both sexes. 

Their lan^juaoe is Low Dutch, which is'a corrupt Jia- 
lect of the German ; but tlie people of fashion speak Eng¬ 
lish and French The established religion is Calvini.-in, 
but other sects are tolerated. Among their ’by rned 
men, Erasmus, Grotius, and Boerhave are part ‘ uiaily 
eelebrated. Their universities are tnose of I. >ecD, 
Utrecht, Groningen, Harderwich, and Franker. rueir 
navy, once so powerful, is now greatly reduced. 

FRANCE. 

^Face of the. Country. France is mostly an open cham¬ 
paign country, very little encumbered with mountains or 
marshes, but beautifully diversified with hill and dale, 
wood and enclosure, streams, lakes, and scattered farms, 
mingled into a thousand delightful landscapes. 

Mountains. The Cevennes are an extensive chain of 
mountains in the ’interior of the country, ’remarkable for 
the artificial fertility conferred upon some of their barrea 
sides by the industry of the inhabitants. This is ’effected 
by walls of loose stones built up, first at the foot of the 
mountain, against which the loose soil brought down by 
the rains being deposited, gradually forms behind them a 
level and fertile space. By a succession of similar opera¬ 
tions, other platforms are produced, and thus the moun¬ 
tains, which formerly presented to view a scene of deso¬ 
lation, are made to exhibit amphitheatres of vegetable 
ground capable of the richest cultivation, almost to their 
very sum mils. 

These mountains in winterare exposed to dreadful hur¬ 
ricanes and falls of snow, which in a few hours reduce the 
ravines and precipices to a level, and, descending to the 
villages, confine the inhabitants to their houses, which are 


FR\NCE. 


233 


valiils on account of the salubrity of if? air. The ^prin¬ 
cipal stations of the. navy are al Toulon and Brest, 

^AJanufaclures and Cotnmcrce. France lias extensive 
manufacture.'*, particularly of silk, woollen and linen 
cloths, iu'vo, cambiics, muslins, and thread lace. Her 
^pniuipal exports are manufaciured silks, woollens, linens, 
wines and brandy ; her ^imports are chiefly wool, hemp, 
oo<ton, raw silk, tallow, tutiacco, sugar tea, and coffee. 

Jn/inhitanfs, (^"C. 'Fhe French are in general lower of 
atature than ihe Flnglish, but active, well proportioned, 
and free from bodily defects. In their ’dispositions they 
are lively, polite, witty, amiable and brave ; but vain glo¬ 
rious, inconstant, volatile, and easily discouraged. The 
larlies, though not remarkable for their beauty, are much 
’celebrated for their sprightliness and wit. The common 
people in general are very oidinary. Personal and do¬ 
mestic cleanliness are less regarded in France than in 
Englatid. Paris has long affonled models of dress to all 
Europe, and the fantastic fashions of that brilliant me¬ 
tropolis have not yet lost their sway, although London 
now boasts a rivalship in fixing the modes. 

The French are observed to bear against the vicissi¬ 
tudes of fortune with a better grace than most other peo¬ 
ple, owing, as it is supposed, to that sprightly vivacity so 
chaiactcristic of the nation. Even during the horrors of 
tlie revolution, Paris continued to be the centre of dissi¬ 
pation ; and while in one part of the city the revolution¬ 
ary axe was immolating its numerous victims, in another, 
the theatres were crowded, and every thing wore the as¬ 
pect (»f joyous festivity. 

Religion. The Roman Catholic religion is the estab¬ 
lished religion, but other sects are tolerated. 

Education. The publick education has lately been pro¬ 
vided for by the establishment of an Imperial University 
at Paris, which is exclusively charged with the publick in¬ 
struction, and controls every scliool and seminary of edu¬ 
cation in the empire. It yet remains to be seen what 
may be the effects of this institution. At present, but few 
of the lower classes of people can either read or write. 

Language. The French language is now the most 
universal of all living languages ; it is chiefly composed 
of words radically Latin, with many German derivatives. 

Army. The French army, in 1811, was stated by the 
minister of the interior to have amounted to 800,000 men. 

It has since been greatly reduced. 

U 2 


CERMAKt. 


Navy. The French navy has been much reduced since 
the commencement of the revolution ; but active exertions 
have been making to increase the number of her ships, 
which at present amounts to about 40 ships of the line, 
anil 40 frigates. By the late war France lost 43 ships of 
tlm line, fiigates, and 76 covettes. 

Government. The former giive: nment was that of an 
absolute n onarchy. In Aui^ust. 1792. a dreadful massa¬ 
cre took place at Paris Louis XVi. was dethroned, and, 
contrary to every principle of humanity or justice, in Jan¬ 
uary, 1793, was beheaded. 'Fhe chief nobility were in¬ 
humanly slaughtered ; the new rulers themselves were 
chiefly intent on each other's ruin, till at length Boi.aparte 
contrived to get himself elected First Consul, ;md then 
Emperor, with unlimited powers. Havitig under his con¬ 
trol immense armies and a mighty population, he hail near¬ 
ly subjugated the whole European continent, Russia er- 
cepted. It was here his proud course was stayed ; for, 
having advanced into Russia in 1812, with a niighiy army 
so far as Moscow, which was pillaged and burnt, he was 
driven back to his own capital witli disgrace. He was 
compelled twice to abdicate the throne. In 1815, he 
surrendered himself to the Englisii, and was sent a-pris¬ 
oner of the allied powers of Europe, to St. Helena, where 
he died May 5th, 1821. 

Louis XVII1. died in 1824. Charles X. now fills the 
throne of France j the government is a limited monarchy. 

GERMANY. 

Face of the Country. The ’northern parts of Germany 
present a continuity of sandy plains. ’'Phe southern parts 
may be regarded as rather mountainous. Most of the prov¬ 
inces in the neighbourhood, and to the south of the Mayn, 
wlui h is a river emptying into the Rhine, are finely diver¬ 
sified. Many parts of Germany present extensive forests 
Climate. The ’climate is in general temperate, yet it 
is considerably milder in the southern than in the northern 
parts, where the winter is sometimes extremely severe, 
and of long duration. The ’air, however, is every where 
serene umi healthy, except in a few low marshy places 
towards the North Sea. The vine ’thrives well on the 
banks ot (he Mayn, and in most of the countries to the 
south of that river. 

^Soil. Titere is perhaps no country in Europe, in which 

the soil varies more than in Germany. Sandy plains and 


FRANCE. 


231 


sometimes so completely buried, that a communication is 
obliuj’d to be opened in the form of an arch, under the 
enormous mass of snow. In summer, thunder storms are 
frequent and terrible, being accompanied with torrents of 
hail stones of an enormous size, which not only destroy 
the fruits, but do great damage to the flocks, which for 
six months pasture on the mountains. 

I’hese mountains rise on the west of the Rhine, and ex¬ 
tend in a direction nearly from north to south. The 
most elevated summit is that of the Puy de Sansi, which 
rises about 6,300 feet above the level of the sea. 

^Climate and Soil. The air in France is mild and salu¬ 
brious, and the weather much more clear and settled than 
in Great Britain. The ’soil in general is excellent, pro¬ 
ducing the necessaries, and especially the luxuries of life 
in great abundance. In some places, however, the 
ground is subject to be burnt and parched up by the sum¬ 
mer droughts. 

If France be divided from east to west into four nearly 
equal parts, the most northern will bear a strong resem¬ 
blance to the south of England. The principal difference 
observable in the second division consists in the display of 
a few vineyards thinly scattered. The third is ’distin¬ 
guished by the first appearance of maize or Indian corn j 
and in the southernmost, groves of olive trees are inter¬ 
mixed among cornfields and luxuriant vineyards. 

"^Productions. Grain is raised for exportation in con¬ 
siderable quantities. Wine and brandy are also great 
products ; five millions of acres being supposed to be cov¬ 
ered with vines. Silk is likewise one of its valuable pro¬ 
ductions. liCmons, oranges, figs, olives, madder, saffron, 
hops, and tobacco are also successfully cultivated, and at¬ 
tempts have recently been made to introduce the culture 
of indigo and cotton. But the agriculture of this coun¬ 
try, though now in a state of improvement, is considera¬ 
bly behind that of England. 

France is ’deficient in cattle, both as to their number 
and size. Sheep are still less improved, and worse man¬ 
aged. There is consequently a scarcity of animal food, 
and the poor live chiefly on bread. Forests are numer¬ 
ous, and wood is the ’common fuel of the country. Cider 
is produced in certain parts. The most remarkable fe¬ 
rocious animals are the wolf and wild boar. The hunt¬ 
ing of the latter has long been a favourite diversion. 

Iron, antimony, (juicksilver, manganese, and pit-coal, 
are found in France in great abundance j several kinds ^f 


FRANCE. 


532 

earth, used in manufactures, and all kinds of stonv suh»« 
stances, from the massv rock tliat foinis the st telv col- 
nmn, to the gem tliat sparkles on the neck of beauty. 

Boads. The ®roa(ls of Fiance are generally spacious, 
straight, well paved, planted on both sides with chestnut 
or other trees. There are 28 principal roads from Paris 
to the boundaries of France. 

Canals. The internal communication and commerce 
of France is greatly augmented by navigable canals, the 
most ^considerable of-which is that of Lauiruedoc. The 
grand canal extends from tlie bay of Languedoc to the 
city of Toulouse^ where it enters the Garonne. It is 180 
miles in length, 144 feet in width, and 6 feet deep. 

Cities. Paris, the capital, exceeds London in magnifi¬ 
cence and splendour, but falls short of it in cleanliness, 
convenience, and in the extent of its population, which is 
715,000. Paris has long been the seat of voiapUuvjs e?® 
and dissipation, and although one of the dirtie^^t, certainly 
one of the gayest, noisiest, most splendid, and luxurious 
cities in the world. It is ’situated on each ide of t'oe 
river Seine, and abounds in grand publick institutiona and 
sumptuous edifices. The hoiuses are mostly five or six 
^stories high, built of free-stone, taken from quarries 
■which run in various directions, under tlie city, so that 
many of the streets are completely undermined. A vio¬ 
lent shock of an earthquake, it is thought, would be pe¬ 
culiarly destructive, and might sink a considerable part of 
the city into those immense subterraneous caverns from 
which it has arisen. The staircase and the walls of their 
houses, are also of stone, without any wainscotting, and 
the floors of brick ; hence the city is very secure from 
the calamity of fire. 

Lyons, accounted the’second city in France,’celebrated 
for its rich silk, and gold and silver stuffs, suffered great¬ 
ly in the revolution, nor has it yet recovered its former 
prosperity. Population nearly 120,000. 

The ’chief commercial ports of France are Bourdeaux 
and Marseilles ; the former containing 92,000 inhabitants, 
is the centre of the West India trade, and is the ’princi¬ 
pal place for the exportation of wine ; the latter, with a 
population of 110,000, is in’possession of most of the 
trade of the Mediterranean. 

The other most considerable cities are Nantes, ’famous 
for its finefirandy, and Rouen for its woollen and linen 
manufactures, Montfel%er\% a place much visited by in- 


AUSTRIAN DOMINIONS. 


23.: 


Langua^e^ The Geriuan is an orisinal language, 
and is the basis of the Swedish, the Danisii, and the En¬ 
glish. Among people of fashion, however, it is almost 
superseded b)' tiie French, which is univeisaily used bj 
the nobility and gentry throughout Germany. As to tiicir 
religion, it seems nearly equally divided bv^tween secta¬ 
ries of all kinds, Protestants, Papists and Jews. 

Gert.ian f'onfedtratinn. This Confederation consists of 
the sovereign princes and free towns of Germany, togeth¬ 
er with the Eioperor of Austria and the kings of Pi u^sia, 
Great Britain, Denmark and Netherlands, for their pos¬ 
sessions in Germany. The concerns of the Confedera¬ 
tion are confided to a federative Diet, consisting of 
plenipotentiaries from the various States or members of 
the (h)nfederation. '1 lie States may not make war upon 
each other, arid are bound lo submit their (iiffcrences to 

O 1 I ^ I /V f 

AUSTRIAN DOMINIONS. 

lace of ihe Country. The ^face of ibe country is rather 
mountainous than level, altluiugiiit presents many exten¬ 
sive plains, jiarticularly in the cenfrarparts of llungny, 
where a person may travel some days without perceiv¬ 
ing the mallest elevation. 

CU ’ le. 'I'he ^clim.ite throughout the Austrian do- 
ininiotir? is tolerably mild, and in general healthful, if we 
except Hungary. In that kingdom, many parts of the 
great central plain, being, through want of cultivation and 
drainage, converted into stagnant morasses, the air is in 
some places very unwholesome. 

Soil. The ’soil of so extensive an empire must neccs- 
3 arily be var ious ; but, excepting tlie mountainous (ract^ 
it is almost every where extremely fertile. Austria Prop¬ 
er is well cultivated, contains a happy peasantry, and has 
every appearance of a flourishing province. Bohemia is 
greatly favoured by nature, in regard to its soil, which, as 
well as its climate, is excellent; and all the necessaries of 
life are exceedingly good and cheap. Hungary, howev¬ 
er, excels all the other territories of tlie Austrian empire, 
in fertility. But from the imperfect state of agriculture, 
many parts of that rich country present only extensive 
morasses and wastes. The great central plain of Hunga¬ 
ry, extending 250 miles in every direction, presents in 
most parts, an extremely rich, but uncultivated soil. 

Productions. Tlie ’vegetable productions of the Aus¬ 
trian dominions are, in general, similar to those of other 


auSthian dominions. 


countries in the same latitudes. Grain and pasturage 
are extremely plentiful and good. Bohemia is ^famous 
for hups, as well as for barley and wheat. Austria Prop¬ 
er displays numerous vineyaids and fielils of saffron. 
Hungary is ’famous for the richness of its wines, particu¬ 
larly that of Tokay. Timber is also abundant Austri¬ 
an Paly is ’celebrated for the highly improved state of 
its agriculture. 

The domestic animals are in general excellent, partic¬ 
ularly the horned cattle, which are mostly of a peculiar 
colour, a slaty blue. Horses run wild. I'he sheep have 
spiral horns standing erect, 'fhe bison,, chamois, and 
ma mot, are found on the mountains, some ot which are 
also infested with wolves and bears. 

iMinerals. 'The Austrian empire far excels all the oth¬ 
er crmntries of Europe in the variety and importance ot 
its mines. Silver, lead, copper, quicksilver, and especial¬ 
ly tin. are found in Bohemia ; gold, silver, quicksilver, 
lead and iron, in Austria Proper, 'fhe quicksilver mines 
of Idria, 25 miles nortli of Trieste, are computed to yield 
annually 300,000 pounds weight of mercury. These 
mines are of a vast depth, and extremely pernicious to 
health, 'fhe labours there carried on are sometimes 
allotted as a punishment to criminals. 

H'fngary is still richer in its minerals. The gold mines 
of Cremnitz, and the silver mines at Shemnitz, have giv¬ 
en birth to these two cities, which are therefore ca lied 
mining towns. Hungary likewise contains antimony, and 
a celebrated mine of opal, a gem preferred before all 
others by the Oriental nations. 

Alanvfactures and Trade. Boliemia has long been’cel¬ 
ebrated for its manufactures of paper and glass ; those of 
linen are also considerable. Seven great manufactures 
of cotton in Austria Pi oper, employ 140,000 persons, and 
30,000 are said to be employed in the woollen manufac¬ 
ture at Lintz. 

The Austrian empire is dlsadvantageously situated in 
regard to foreign trade, being wholly inland, and having 
no other port than Trieste. 

Chief Towns. Vienna^ the capital, is embellished with 
two imperial palaces, a university, and many other noble 
edifices. The houses are generally of brick, five or six 
’stories high, with three or four deep cellars one under 
another. Provisions are very plentiful and cheap; livers 
of geese are here estimated a great delicacy, and evea 


GERMANY. 


235 


barren heaths predominate in the north-east, and swamps' 
and marshes in the north-west ; but some of the interior 
and south-vvestei n parts have an uncommonly good soil, 
and great attention is generally paid to its improvement. 

^Productions Germany yields all the various kinds of 
grain in great abundance ; likewise flax of an excellent 
quality, hemp, ho|>s, tobacco, madder, satfron, rape-seed, 
rhubarb, excellent garden vegetables, orchard fruits, and 
wine in most of the southern provinces.. The famous 
vine, called Old Hock, is produced in a district scarcely 
a mile in length, and half a mile in breadth. In some 
years this spot affords i^OO hogsheads. 

In the ^rearing of cattle and sheep, Germany is, how¬ 
ever, greatly (l."licient. The number of oxen is not 
sufficient either for agricultural purposes or consump¬ 
tion. The breed of horses, in most parts, is indifferent 5 
that of hogs is much neglected. Goats, asses, and mules 
are reared in the mountainous parts. 

'Fhe forests are stocked with wild boars, stags, doer, 
anti bares. Poultry is abuntlant. Salted and smoked 
geese, ;ind goose quills, are exported from Mecklenburg 
and Pomerania. Some parts 01 Germany are remarkable 
for fine larks and thrushes of a delicious flavour. Others 
abound with singing birds, particularly Canary birds and 
goldfinches, which are exported to almost every country 
of Europe. Silk worms a»e reared with peculiar care in 
some of the southern and even northern districts. 

^Minerals. i'hc tin mines afford a supply’ of tliat metal 
for home consumption. Iron of a very good quality ; 
lead, quicksilver, cobalt, arsenic, and zinc, are in great 
abuiulance. Germany lias large quarries of curious *oar- 
ble, and capital null and burr stones. Coal, fuller’s 
earth, and tine porcelain clay, are also plentiful. 

Manufactures. Tlie manufactures of Germany arc nu¬ 
merous, and many of them carried to a great extent and a 
liigh degree of perfection. The ’principal are those of 
linen and woollen cloth, cotton, tiiread lace, China, hard 
ware, (inferior to none but the English) mirrors, <>-lass, 
toys, trinkets, and silk, but not equal to the Frencli. 

Commerce. Germany has enjoyed,till lately,a most ex¬ 
tensive commerce. 'Pile’principal articles of exportation, 
are umber, grain, fruit,wine,tobacco, madder, potash,cop¬ 
per, biass, mirror.-, quicksilver, great quaiuities of linen 
cloth, thread lace, haid ware, toysuiid trinkets. Germa¬ 
ny ’imports oxen and horses chiefly from Hungary, Po- 


236 


GERMANY. 


land and Denmark; Hogs from Hungary; butter from 
Ireland aod Holland ; and an immense quantity of raw 
cot^^on from Turkey, which is distributed all over the 
north of Europe, Gerioany and Swilzei laud. 

Townfi. Dresden, rhe capital of the kingdom of Saxo¬ 
ny, is the most beautiful city of Geimany, ^famous for its 
ndirors, it.*, fouu lries of bells and cannon, for its gallery 
ot pictures, its various c«'l;ecti< ns of !he fine arts, and for 
its porcelain (oa-iufacture. itisalso the seat of a univer¬ 
sity, and contains a por>ula(ion of 50,000 inhabitants. 
Leipsic and Frartkfort are ^celebrated for iheir furs. 

Alwdch is the capital c*f tlie kingdom of Bavaria. It 
ranks next lo Dresden, which it equals in magnificence, 
if not in neatness and elegance. Its popuiatiitn is esti¬ 
mated at 60,000. Here are manufactures of velvet, silk, 
wotti and tapestry. 

Stutgurd, the capital of the kingebun of Wirtemburg, 
contains manufactures of sluftV,bilk stockings and ribands, 
and £4,000 inliabitants. 

Magdeburg is a large, beautiful, wealthy and strongly 
fortified city, having an extensive trade and numerous 
manufactures. Its population is about 33,000. 

Hanover is the capital of a lately erected kingdom of 
the same name, of which Ids Britannic Majesty takes the 
title nf king. It cemtains £5,000 inliabitants. 

Hamburg and Frankjort are free cities ; the former, 
till lately, was one of the chief commercial cities of Eu¬ 
rope. In 1799, no fewer than £4£3 vessels entered this 
port. The Elbe heie is one mile wide. 

Inhabitants^ 1 he Germans are frank, grave, hon¬ 

est, hospitable, and generally very fair .n their dealings, 
excellent bodi in arts and in war, and have an extensive 
genius for mechanical learning. Industry, application, 
and perseverance are their ^charactevislics ; though they 
are generally thought by some to want animation. The 
peasantry, tliough sometimes oppressed by the grandees, 
are in geiieral more comfortable than many of their 
neighbours. 

The Germans have greatly distinguished themselves 
in various branches of learning and science, particularly 
in musick, in which they excel all other nations. Tney 
have 30 universities, a great number of fee grammar 
schools, besides numerous literary societies, publick libra¬ 
ries, reading clubs, critical journals, and other means of 
diftubing useful infor mation. 


AUSTRIAN DOMINIONS. 


239 


frojrs and snails find a l eady market. Bull baiting is a fa¬ 
vourite diver.'iion of the populace. The population is 
26 J. 000. 

Prague is the ’second city of the Austrian empire. It 
is surrounded by a wall and contains 80,000 inhabitants. 
Buda con-dins a population of 30,000. 'The people, like 
those of Vienna, delight in bull fights and in the exliibi- 
tions of Wild beasts. Fresburg is a well built town, oa 
the Danube, which is here ’750 yards wide and exceed¬ 
ingly ra[»id. 'I'he population is estimated at 30,000. //er- 
manstadt in Transylvania is fortified with a double wall 
and contains 16,000 inhabitants. Temeswor is situated in 
a morass. Its population is 10,000. Saltzburg is an an¬ 
cient and poj.ulous city, near which are productive salt¬ 
works. THent: is a place ot considerable trade ; its ’chief 
exports are various metals, particularly quicksilver, 
wine^ airtl other native productions. Pupuluticm, 36,000. 

Milan contains manufactures of silk, linen, stockings, 
gold and silver lace, and a population of 130,000. 1 he 

cathedral is a vast structure, 500 feet long and 300 broad, 
built wholly of white marble. About two miles from the 
city is an artificial echo, which will repeat the report of 
a pi«>tol above 60 times. 

Venice^ once the seat of a powerful republic, is situated 
on 72 small islanils. Witliin the city are 400 canals cross¬ 
ed by a great number of bridges. Here are excellent 
manufactures of velvet and silk stockings. The number 
of inhabitants is 110,0t)0. 

Inhabitants^ ^'C. The Austrian empire being an aggre- 
g«te of several kingdoms and states, a considerable difier- 
ence ot manners and customs prevails among the various 
nations of vviiich its inhabitants are composed. In Austria 
Proper the peasantry live in that comtoi table style, which 
results from the fertility of the soil and the enjoymen*^ of 
freedom. The lower orders are little addicied to vice, 
and punishments are rare. 'Fhe Hungarians are general¬ 
ly indolent, but a brave, magnanimous people ; remarka- 
blv handsome and well shaped 'I'heir appearance is im¬ 
proved by tfieir dress, which is peculiar and wery b»*coii\- 
ing I'lie lower classes sleep mostly in their clothes, the 
use of beds being little known. Immense numbers of 
gypsies stroll about the country. There are also many 
Jews in the principal towns. 

'riie predominant religion is Roman Catholic ; but all 
sects are tgUrated. 

The government is nearly that of an absolute inona^chy. 


240 


SWITZERLANB. 


SWITZERLAND. 

Switzerland, being situated on and about the Alps, is 
reckoned the most mountainous country in the world. 
The Alps are an assemblage of mountains piled upon 
mountains, whose most elevated summits pierce the 
clouds, and are covered with everlasting snow. 

Glaciers. The depth and spaces between the summits 
and ridges of these mountains are filled with immense 
bodies or fields of ice, called "^glaciers., which never melt, 
resembling so many frozen lakes, from 50 to 500 feet in 
thickness, extending in some instances 20 and even 30 
miles, and finally terminating in cirltivated vallies below, 
so that it is said, there are places where a man may stand, 
and at the same time gather snow in one hand, and tiow- 
ers in the other. 

Face of ifie Country. Nature appears in Switzerland 
in some of its most awful and majestic forms. The stu¬ 
pendous summits of the Alps, clothed in eternal snow, ill?, 
glaciers, or seas of ice, intersected with numerous fissures, 
the tremendous precipices, the descending torrents and 
dashing cataracts, are objects singularly terrific and sub¬ 
lime. Sometimes masses of snow and ice loosened from 
these mountains are suddenly precipitated into the vallies 
below, sweeping away flocks and villages in their course ; 
and even the mountains themselves sometimes burst asun¬ 
der, and overwhelm thousands of people by their fall. 

From stftftp to Hffinp, loud thund’ring down they come, 

A wintry waste, in dire commotion all ; 

And herds, and docks, and travellers, and swains, 

And sometimes whole brigades of marching troops, 

Or (lainletB sleeping in the dead of night. 

Are deep beneath the smoth’riug ruin whelm’d. 

The advantageous efiects of unremitting industry are 
every where conspicuous in Switzerland. Here rocks 
that were formerly barren are clothed with luxuriant pas¬ 
tures, or planted with vines ; the traces of the plough are 
visible on the sides of precipices a'pparently inaccessible ; 
the Stupendous mountains are elegantly chequered with 
corn fields, meads, and vineyards ; and various spots, 
which nature seemed to have doomed to eternal sterility, 
are crowned with the variegated beauties of luxuriant, 
vegeiation. 

Climate, The ’climate has always been celebrated as 
dclighthil and salubrious y but the winter is in many parts 


SWITZERLAND. 


S4l 

severe, and the summer heats in the deep vallies are op¬ 
pressive. The goitre, a disease peculiar ro the innabit- 
ants of mountainous countries, is prevalent in many parts 
of the Alpine districts. 

Soil and Productions. The soil varies greatly accord¬ 
ing to its situation, insomuch that the husbandmen are oft¬ 
en sowing on one sideol the hills, vvhile they are reaping 
on the other In the warmest situations and in the val- 
lies are numerous vineyards, and lemon and orange trees. 
1 he lower declivities of the hills are diversilied with, 
cornfields and meadows. Above these on the still rising 
sitles of the mountains, appear small woods of larch, pine, 
and fir, but nothing that, can be denominated a forest. 
These upper woodlands afford rich meadows and fertile 
pastures, luxuriant in grass and clover, and embellished 
with an endless variety of mountain plants, llising still 
higlier to'wards the summits, extensive ranges of pasture 
grounds occur, to which the cattle are brought to graze 
during tvvo or three weeks before and after midsummer. 
The last stage of vegetation is a zone of rocky pasturage, 
below the eilge of the snow, covered with a snort kind of 
turf. This is the native domain of the bounding cha¬ 
mois ; but during a few weeks in the middle of summer, 
it affords some support to the sheep. 

In a country like Switzerland, tillage cannot be carried 
on to a great extent. Most kinds of grain, however, arc 
cultivated ; but the crops are far from being productive, 
and publick gratiaries have been found necessary to supply 
any casual deficiency. Pastunige is the most ’important 
part of the system of Swiss farming. Tlieir cattle are 
their ’principal support, and various preparations of milk; 
constitute a considerable part of the food, and even of 
the luxuries of the peasantry. 

Rock crystal, a great article of trade, is found among 
some of the mountains in nieces which weigh 700 weight. 

Manufactures and Commerce. In general the ’manu¬ 
factures of Switzerland are unimportant. The ’most con¬ 
siderable are those of linen cloths, watches, printed cot¬ 
tons, and a few silks. Commerce has never flourished to 
any great extent in this inland country. Cattle are nu¬ 
merous, and cheese is one of the ’principal exports. 

Towns. Basil is the ’most populous town, containing 
about 15,000 inhabitants, plea.santry situated on the Rhine, 
which is here broad, deep, and rapid. Its university has 
.produced many celebrated men. Here the art of making 

W 


242 


SWITZERLAND. 


paper is said to have been invented. Berne^ containing 
about 13,000 iidiabitants, is next to Basil in population, 
and excels it in elegance, being the handsomest to' n in 
Switzerland. The houses are of free stone, resting on ar¬ 
cades 5 and in (he principal streets are all of a uniform 
height. Zurich enjoys a charming situation on the lake of 
the same name, and is Tamous for its manufactures of 
crape. Lausanne, about one mile from the lake of Gene¬ 
va, has acquired a character for politeness and the charms 
of society, whicli has rendered it the favourite resort of 
men of leisure and tasite. Inhabitants 10 , 000 . 

Inhabitants^ Manners and Customs. The Swiss are a 
remarkably strong and robust people, ^famed for their in¬ 
dustry, temperance, truth and nonesty. A taste for liter¬ 
ature and genuine good breeding are conspicuous in the 
manners of the gentry, and the common people are far 
more intelligent than men of the same rank in most other 
countries. In short, thereis not a people in Europe whose 
national character is superior. They are remarkably 
clean in their cottages and in their persons, and their 
countenances are expressive of satisfaction and content. 

J.anguage. The Swiss is a dialect of the German i 
but the French is the fashionable language, and is gener¬ 
ally spoken among the gentry 5 it is also much diffused 
throughout the country. 

Religion. Roman Catholic, and Protestant 5 the foi> 
mer sect are the most numerous. 

Education. Switzerland has produced a number of 
learned men. There are several respectable universities; 
the peasantry in general are well informed, but the im¬ 
portant business of popular instruction is less neglected 
than in most of the countries of Europe. 

Government^ SfC. Tlie allied powers, by treaty, have 
acknowledged the independence of Switzerland, and each 
Canton is a Republic, under its own laws. The 22 Can¬ 
tons have formed a confederacy, under a general Diet. 

The Ancient inhabitants of this country were called Hel¬ 
vetic ; they were subdued by Julius Cesar, and afterwards 
by the Germans, till the year 1307, when Grisler their 
Governor, having excited the publick indignation by his 
wanton cruelties, fell a sacrifice to the just resentment of 
William Tell, an illustrious Swiss patriot, who, as it is 
said, had been compelled to shoot at an apple placed on 
the head of his own son, as a punishment for refusing to 
pay any respect to a hat which Grisler in the plenitude 
of tyranny, had set up,upon a pole, as an object of publick. 


SPAIN. 


243 


veneration. Tell’s resentinent was nobly espottsed by 
the people, and the States were declared independent; 
a republican form of governnicnt was immediately estab¬ 
lished, and soon after confirmed by treaty with the other 
powers of Europe. 

SPAIN. 

Face of the Country. The ’face of the country is in 
general delightful, being greatly diversified with hills and 
dales, elevated mountains and extensive plains, exhibiting 
a variety of magnificent and extensive prospects. 

Mountains. The most ’remarkable mountains are the 
Pyrenees., between France and Spain. Mount Perdu, the 
greatest elevation in this range, is estimated at 11,000 
feet above the level of the sea. The Cantabrian moun¬ 
tains are a kind of continuation of the Pyrenees, along 
the bay of Biscay. 

Montserrat is a solitary mountain of a singular form, 
situated in a vast plain, about 30 miles north-west from 
Barcelona, and is inhabited by monks and hermits, who 
have a famous convent, which is sometimes visited on par¬ 
ticular festivals, by 6 or 7000 persons. This mountain is 
fourteen miles in circumference, and about 11,000 feet in 
height, from the top of which may be seen the islands 
Majorca, and Minorca, at the distance of 150 miles. 

Climate. The climate of Spain is various. The interi¬ 
or being for the most part an elevated country, the winters 
are sharp and stormy, although the summers are in gen- 
ei*al very warm. In the southern provinces the heat is 
frequently excessive, and the air insalubrious ; malignant 
fevers often carry off great numbers of the inhabitants, 
'fhe Salano, or south wind from Africa, produces the 
most inflammatory and irritating effects. The ’climate, 
however, in some parts of the kingdom is celebrated as 
equal if not superior to that of any other part of Europe. 

Soil and Agriculture. Tlic ’sod is generally light, and 
rests on a substratum of gypsum or plaister of Paris. The 
middle are the least fertile parts. There are some sandy 
deserts in the south, and many barren mountains in the 
north ; yet in a greater part of the country, particularly 
in the vallies and plains, the soil is good, producing in 
some places two crops in a year. But Spanish agricul¬ 
ture, although of late in many places greatly improved, 
is, in general, in a very imperfect state. 

Product ions. S})ain produces almost every where ex¬ 
cellent wine. In tlie province of Malaga alone, thenum- 


244 


SPAIN. 


ber of wine presses is estimated at 14,000 : also a con¬ 
siderable quantity of oil, and a great variety of choice 
frinl-s, such as oranges, lemons, prunes, citrons, almonds^ 
raisins, dates, %s, filberts, pomegranates, and chestnutsj 
but not a sufficiency of grain, whicli is chiefly owing to 
neglect of Milage. Saffron, honey, and silk are also great 
products of Spain ; cotton, rice, and the sugar-cane, have 
been successfully cultivated in the southern provinces. 
The herb kali, from which soda is manutactured, used in 
the manufactory of y^lass, grows in great plenty on the 
sea-shore along the Mediterranean, Spain has mines of 
all the precious metals ; those of iron are very abundant 
aiid of the first quality, as are also those of quicksilver, 
the greatest part of which is exported to South America 
and to Mexico, where it is used in refining tire gold and 
silver prodiiced from the mines. Mules are very common 
an this country ; some of their horses are much cele¬ 
brated ; the number of horned cattle is inconsiderable. 
But what has ^rnost distinguished Spain from all other 
countries, is her breed of sheep called Mei'ino^ numbers 
of which have been imported into the United States. The 
number of these sheep in Spain has been stated at 5 mil¬ 
lions ; and that of the shepherds who attend upon them at 
40,000- '1 hey are driven every summer, from south to 

north, along the mountains, which yield agreat variety of 
sweet herbs, and back again towards winter. 

J^lamifactnres and Commerce. 'I'liere are several re¬ 
spectable woollen manufactures some of cotton—hut the 
®niost important are those of silk. At Carthagena and 
Ferrol there are considerable linen and sail cloth inanufac- 
lories. Leather, paper, china, saltpetre, gunpowder, and 
salt, are also manufactured in considerable quantities. 

The foreign trade of Spain is mostly carried on by other 
nations. The Vhief imports are hard-ware, grain, but¬ 
ter, cheese, fish, furniture, timber, linen, sailcloth, hemp, 
fax, sugar, and spices. The ^exports are wool, to the 
amount nearly of one million pounds sterling annually; 
raw and manufactured silks, wine, raisins, brandy, figs, 
lemons, salt, barilla, cork and saftron. 

InhabitantSif Manners., 8fc. The Spaniards in general 
are tall and thin ; their hair and complexion are dark, 
their eyes sparkling, and their countenances expres¬ 
sive. 'I he men are ^celebrated for their secresy, loyal¬ 
ty, fidelity, temperance, and patience under adversity ; 
and the ladies have been often ’admired for their wit and 


SPAIN* 


245 


vivacity ; but the former are at the same time indolent, 
proud, jealous, and revengeful ; and tlie latter, by their 
indiscriminate use of paint, may be said to render them¬ 
selves objects of compassion rather than of love. 

The temperance of the Spaniards in eating and drinking 
is very remarkable. They frequently breakfast as well 
as sup in bed their breakfast is usually chocolate, tea be¬ 
ing very seldom drunken. They live much upon garlic, 
sal lad and radishes. The men drink very little wine, and 
the women use water or chocolate. Serenades are very 
frequent, and dancing is so universally admired, that a 
grandmother, mother and daughter frequently join in the 
same contra dance. 

The Spanish nobility and gentry have a great aversion 
to agriculture and trade. They seldom go from home, or 
apply tliemselves to any kind of business. The inferior 
orders, even in the great cities, are miserably lodged. 
Many of tlie poorer sort, both men and women, wear 
neither shoes nor stockings. Coarse bread steeped in oil, 
and occasionally seasoned with vinegar, is the common 
food of the country people through several provinces. In 
Spain a traveller ought to carry his provisions and bedding 
with him ; and even when he meets with the appearance 
of an inn, he must often cook his victuals, it being beneath 
the dignity of a Spaniard to perform these offices for a 
stranger. Of late, however, some tolerable inns have 
been opened by Irishmen and Frenchmen, in cities and 
upon tlie high roads. In some parts of Spain, the forests 
are infested with smugglers and banditti, a circumstance 
which renders travelling sometimes dangerous. 

The bull fights are a ’favourite national amusement. 
Tiiese take place in amphitheatres, prepared for the pur¬ 
pose, the animal is first attacked by horsemen, armed 
with lances ; then by men on foot, who carry a kind of 
arrow terminated like a fish-hook. These give the poor 
animal ex(|uisive pain, and redouble his fury. When the 
bull is sufficiently exhausted, a man, called the matadou, 
advances with a long knife, and usually with a single blow 
terminates his sufferings. 

Chief Towns. Madrid, the capital, situated on the 
banks of the Manzanares, a small stream,almost dry in the 
summer, in a barren plain, surrounded by mountains, 
has been changed from a dirty village to a splendid city, 
encompassed by a wall with 15 gates, all of which are el¬ 
egant. It contains about 180,OUO inhabitants. The streets 


246 


SPAIN. 


are mostly straight, wide, clean, and well paved. The 
houses are of brick, and lofty. The palace is extremely 
inagniiicent, presenting four fronts of 470 feet in length, 
and 100 in height. The Plaza Mayor is a square, 1536 
feet in circuit, in which the bull-fights and publick execu¬ 
tions are exhibited. It is enclosed by 136 houses of five 
stories high, richly ornamented. The Prado is a delight¬ 
ful publicK walk, a mile and a halfin length, planted with 
regular rows of trees, and watered with a great number 
of fountains, where the nobility and gentry take the air 
on horseback, or in their coaches, and the common peo¬ 
ple on foot, or divert themselves with a variety of sports 
and exercises. 

The Escurial, a royal palace, situated about 15 miles 
from Madrid, is a most superb structure, 640 feet in length 
and 580 in breadth. The apartments are decorated with 
an astonishing variety of paintings, sculpture, tapestry, 
ornaments of gold and silver, marble, jaspers, gems, and 
other precious stones, surpassing ail imagination. 

Cadiz^ the '^most commercial city in Spain, is situated 
on an island, connected to the main land by a fortified 
bridge On the south side, the city is inaccessible by sea 
on account of the banks which lie before it j and on the 
north there is a sand bank which renders any attempt that 
way very dangerous. It has an exteiipive commerce, the 
liouses are ioftj, but the streets are dirty and ill paved! 
The number or inhabitants is 70,000. Barcelona, next 
to Cadiz, the most considerable city in point of commei ce, 
is purticuiarly^’celebrated for the industry of its inhabi¬ 
tants. and for its flourishing manufactures of wviol, cotton, 
and silk. Its population lias been estimated at 111,410. 
Valencia contains 105,000 inhabitants. Its silk manufac¬ 
tures are some of the most extensive in Europe. About 
4000 silk looms give employment to more than t^0,000of 
,the inhabitants, and consume yearly 627,000 pounds of 
raw siik. Seville is an extensive city on the Guadalquiv- 
er, which is navigable to this place. It contains 100,000 
inhabifants, and is the seat of a tobacco manufactory, ac¬ 
counted the largest in the world. Malaga^ a place of con¬ 
siderable commerce, is particularly ^celebrated for its ex¬ 
cellent wines, and contains 52,000 inhabitants. Ferrol 
and Carihagena are strongly fortified places, and are the 
^cinei stations of the royal navy. 

containing 12,000 inhabitants, is a very strong 
fort, built upon a rock, the gunimit of which is compute^ 


POUTUGAC. 


I- 

247 


at 1537 feet above the level of the sea. It has been in 
the possession of the English for more than a century, and 
is considered impregnable. 

Religion^ Language^ and Literature. The religion of 
Spain is the Roman Catholic, no other being tolerated. 
The Inquisition, that disgrace to human nature, was here 
in force three centuries. 

The Spanish language is one of the dialects formed up¬ 
on a Latin basis, but has a considerable admixture of Moor¬ 
ish or Arabic words. Spain boasts of more than twenty 
universities, of which that of Salamanca is the most cel¬ 
ebrated. The education of the lower classes, however,’ 
is very much neglected. 

Government^ Army, and Navy. The government is a 
limited monarchy. In 1806 the army amounted to 153,840 
men ; and the navy in 1815, consisted of 112 vessels of 
war. ^ 

PORTUGAL. 

Climate. The ’climate of Portugal is hot, dry, and in 
general very healthy. At Lisbon the ’daysof fair weath- 
ei-, throughout the year, are computed at 300 on an aver¬ 
age, and tiie mean heat at about sixty degrees. Consump¬ 
tive people and invalids from Great Britain and other 
northern countries, frequently resort to this place to spend 
the winter and spring on account of the salubrity of its air. 

Face of the Country^ Soil^ and Productions. Portugal very 
much resembles Spain with which it is so intimately 
united by nature, its ’soil is light and shallow, and in 
general not so fertile as tliat of Spain, especially ingrain, 
of which there is a great deficiency. Jis fruits are not so 
highly llavoureil, but its oil is generally esteemed better. 

The vineyards are the ’most important feature of Por¬ 
tuguese husbandry, and their culture supports a very 
considerable part of the population. What is called pout 
WINK ’takes its name from the city Oporto. The tract 
of land which produces this wine is said to be but little 
more than four geog-apliical miles in length, by three in 
breadth. The annual produce is reckoned at 90,000 pipes. 
None of these wines are exported till after having re¬ 
mained three years in the ware-houses, at Oporto. Of 
all the tree.s none are so common as cork-trees, which 
form woods of considerable extent. ’Agriculture in this 
country, if we excejit the northern provinces, is in a very 
wretched state, owing not so much to the want of in¬ 
dustry among the peasants, as to the want of skill. 


'^48 


PORTUGAL. 


Instead of threshing thejr tread out their grain by oxen, 
the whole quantity of which is not commonly sufficient for 
more than three months’ consumption. Portugal produces 
but little grass, owing to the dryness of the soil. Cows 
are rare, and butter is scarce, for which oil is used as a 
^substitute. Mules are common, and are used in prefer¬ 
ence to horses for carriage or draught. 

Inhabitants^ Manners^ and Customs. In regard to their 
persons, there exists a striking difference between the 
Portuguese and Spaniards, for which, as they inhabit the 
same latitudes, and are originally the same people, it is 
impossible to account. ‘Tne Portuguese are generally 
somewhat low in stature, square made, and inclined to 
corpulency ; their features are mostly irregular, with the 
nose turned up, and projecting lips. The Spaniards, on 
the contrary, are generally tail and meagre, their lips thin, 
and their noses frequently aquiline. Both nations agree 
in their swarthy complexions, black, expressive eyes, and 
long, black, and extreriiely strong hair. Both the higher 
and lower classes of the Portuguese are fond of a profu¬ 
sion of compliments. Among the peasants, even m the 
lowest ranks of society, it is common on meeting, to take 
off rijeir hats, bow very low, and hold each other by the 
hand, making mutual inquiries after their health, and that 
of their families—after all this, usually adding, “I am at 
your commands, and your humble servant.” They are 
geneialiy talkative ; their language, even in the mouths 
of the common people, is elegant, and tliey scarcely ever 
use oaths and execrations like the Spaniards, English, and 
many other nations. Tlie ^most distinguishing trait in the 
Portuguese character, is an almost universal want of at¬ 
tention to cleanliness in their houses and persons. In 
every respect the Portuguese peasantry are superior to 
those of Spain in politeness, inattention to strangers, and 
in industry. But they are miserably oppressed by the 
great. The only foreign luxury which they know, is to¬ 
bacco, and sometimes a Newfoundland dried cod-fish 5 but 
this is a luxury to which they seldom dare aspire. A 
piece of bread made of Indian corn, and a salted pilchard, 
with a head of garlic 10 give the bread a flavour, compose 
their standing dish. 

ChieJ Towns. Lisbon, the capital, is nobly ^situated 
near the mouth of' the Tagus, which affords it a safe and 
capacious harbour. In 1755 it was afmost entirely de- 
stroyeu by an earthquake, in which above i24,000 persons 


ITALY. 


249 


are said to have perished. Is has been almost eiitirely re- 
built since that tinie. The new city is much more com¬ 
modious than the old, being planned out in a very regular 
form, the streets straight and spacious, with many elegant 
squares. The houses are lofty and well built, of a kind 
ot white stone, which makes an elegant app*earance at a 
distance. The population is estimated at about 24{J,000. 

Oporto is ’next to Lisbon in magnitude, wealth and 
commercial importance. It is chietiy ’noted for the wine 
trade, and coiuains about 70,000 inhabitants. 

Manvfact fires and Commerce, The ’manufactures of 
Portugal are few and unimportant. Her commerce is 
more important, but is managed chiefly b\ foreign mer¬ 
chants, particularly British, settled at Lisbon and Oporto. 
The ’principal exports are wine, salt, wool, and fruits. 
The ’imports are grain, flour from the United States, fish, 
and BritisiT manufactures of almost every kind. 

lieligion. Language,, <S’C. 'fhe established religion of 
Portugal is the Roman Catholic, in its strictest forms. 
The Portuguese language strongly resembles the Span¬ 
ish ; both are derived chiefly from the Latin. 'I'he liter¬ 
ature of Portugal is extremely defective ; and the few 
learned men in that country are like stars twinkling in 
tlie dark gloom of night. The arts and sciences are al¬ 
most entirely neglected except by a few among the cler¬ 
gy, who are very numerous. The government is an 
liereditary monarchy. 


ITALY, 

Face of the Country,, and Mountains. Italy present ev¬ 
ery variety of surface. The Alps on the north give a 
mountainous character to these districts. Mount Blanc 
is the most’elevated summit, being 15,304 feet above the 
level of the sea, and is accounted the highest mountain 
in Europe. Its top is covered with perpetual snow. The 
Apennines, beginning from a branch of the Alps, wind 
round the gulf of Genoa, and then run tlie whole length 
of Italy. Vesuvius, a solitary mountain about six iniles 
from Naples, is, by reason of its tremendous volcano, a 
grand feature of nature. Its ’height is only about 3600 
feet; but its tremendous eruptions with the subterraneous 
thunders, the immense columns of smoke, intermixed 
with ruddy flames, the showers of stones ejected to a 
prodigious height, amidst the coruscation oi coiUyiual 


ITALY. 


lightning, and the lava descending in copious streams of 
destrucuon, form a sublime assemUage of terrific objects, 
far surpassing the powers of description. I’lte first erup¬ 
tion on record is that of the }'ear 79, when two cities, 
Pompeii and Herculaneum, were completely buried by 
the lava. The ^circumference of Vesuvius is 30 miles ; 
that of its crater is about half a mile 

Climate. The ^climate is various, but generally tem¬ 
perate and warm. ^Snow someti«nes falls at Rome^ but 
rarely lies on the ground more than one night. 

In the central parts there are several marshes and stag¬ 
nant waters, which render the country in their immediate 
vicinity unhealthy. The provinces south of the Apen¬ 
nines are warm, sultry, and liable to torrents of rain. 
The heat at Naples, being moderated by breezes from the 
mountains and the sea, is not so intense as might be ex¬ 
pected but the sirocco, or south east wind, proceeding 
from the deserts of Africa, sometimes blows for several 
days together, and produces the most debilitating effects, 
causing an universal languor of body and mind. 

Soil mid Productions. Italy, in general, is extremely 
fei tile, abounding in wine, oil, fruits, and silk, which are 
its ^staple commodities. There is, however, no want of 
pasturage, and the quantity of grain produced is gener¬ 
ally sumcient for home consumption, and a surplus for 
exportation might be had if other productions were not 
more beneficial. 

The cattle in general are large j the Parmesan clieese 
is much noted, and constitutes a considerable article of 
commerce. Asses and mules are much used in travelling ; 
the Italian horses are not greatly esteemed. Birds do not 
abound in Italy as in many otlier countries. 

Manufactures and Commerce. The ’chief manufactures 
are of silk, woollen cloth, velvets, laces, crapes, straiv 
hats, looking glasses, leather, bottles, toys, perfumes and 
confectionary. The ’exports consist of wine, olive oil, 
wool, raw silk, almonds, figs, oranges, cheese, saffron and 
various manufactures. The trade is ’carried on chiefly 
by foreigners. The ’principal ports are Genoa, Leghorn, 
Venice, and Naples, with Messina and Palermo in Sicily. 

Cities. Rome, ’situated on the Tiber, 15 miles from the 
sea, is one of the most celebnaled cities both of ancient and 
modern times. It is 13 miles in circumference, surround¬ 
ed by a wall. The streets and squares are numerous, 
many of which are adorned with fountains gnd statues. 


ITALY. 


0 


231 


Home contains at present SOO churclies, filled with all that 
is rare in paintinf^, sculpture, and architecture. The 
cathedral ot St. Peter is TSO feet in length, 520 in breadth, 
atnl 450 in height to the top ot the cross, being, as is sup¬ 
posed by some, the most astonishing, bold and regularfab- 
ric that ever existed Rome c^mtains many remains of 
antiquity, particularly an amphitheatre, on which 12,000 
captive Jews were employed in the reign of Vespasian j 
the Pantheon, converted into a modern church ; tlie pil¬ 
lars of Trajan and Antoiiius ; and tJie triumphal arches of 
Titus and otliers. The population is about 131,000. 

Genoa, once the seat of a famous republic, is one of 
the most splendid cities in Italy. Population 76,000. Its 
manufactures of silk and velvet are still considerable. 

Florence is also a very beautiful city, and contains man¬ 
ufactures of silk and satin, which are excellent. It con¬ 
tains 75,000 inhabitants. 

Leghorn is ’distinguished for the industry and commer¬ 
cial enterprise of its inhabitants. The town is intersected 
by several canals, and carries on a considerable trade in 
silks, essences, wine, oil, and straw hats. The number of 
inhabitants is 51,000. 

NaplesX'i a fine city situated upon one of the most beau¬ 
tiful bays in tlie world, enjoying a luxuriant climate. Most 
of the houses are five and six ’stories high, with flat roofs, 
on which are placed numbers of flower vases, or fruit 
trees in boxes of earth. The population is 330,468. 

Inhabitants. The Italians are in general well propor¬ 
tioned, afliiblc, polite, profuse in their compliments, and 
nice in all punctilios of civility, observing, it is said, a due 
medium between the levity of the French, and the gravity 
of the Spaniards. In the fine arts they have hitherto’ex¬ 
celled all the other nations of Europe ; and their archi¬ 
tects, painters, sculptors, musicians, are unrivalled in 
numbers as well as excellence. Popular education, how¬ 
ever, is very much neglected. 

Religion. Their religion is the Roman Catholic ; but 
persons of all religions live here unmolested, provided 
no gross insult is offered to their worsldp. 

Language. The Italian is a mixture of Latin and Goth¬ 
ic, composing a language, flowing, sweet, and harmonious. 

Antiquities. Tlie ’relics of antiquity in Italy are exceed¬ 
ingly numerous, such as the ruins of baths, temples, am¬ 
phitheatres, triumphal arches, together with a rich pro¬ 
fusion of medals, statues, and paintings, and above all, thi^ 


IFALT. 


OKO 

subterraneous cities Herculaneum and Pompeii, which 
were ^overwhelmed by an eruption of Vesuvius in the 
year 79, and in 1713 were accidentally ^discovered by 
some labourers in digging a well, the former at the depth 
of 80 feet below the present surface of the earth. A 
considerable part of Herculaneum has since been explor¬ 
ed, and avast collection of busts, statues, paintings, altars, 
utensils, furniture, and manuscripts, have been dug out of 
its ruins, an account of which, published by order of the 
king of Naples, fills six folio volumes. It appears that 
the overwhelming torrent was not so sudden, but the in¬ 
habitants were able to make their escape, nor so hot as 
to conflagrate the city. 

Sicily. Tlie Island Sicily is ^separated from Italy by 
the strait of Messina^ which in its narrowest part is only 
3 miles wide. Its ^grand feature is the famous volcanic 
mountain situated near the middle of the eastern 

coast. From a base 180 miles in circuit this mountain 
rises majestically to the height of 11,000 feet above the 
sea. All the upper part is a region of snow and ice ; a 
girdle of thick forests surrounds its middle ; while the 
lower slope consists of cultivated fields and vineyards, en¬ 
riched by the saline and carbonic qualities of the soil, and 
interspersed with 77 cities, towns, and villages. The 
crater at the top of the mountain is about three miles in 
circuit ; but the eruptions frequently burst out some way 
below the summit, and the streams of lava have sometimes 
bvon so copious as to extend to the distance of 30 miles. 
Earthquakes caused by the same intestine commotions 
that piodu-^e the eruptions, have frequently agitated the 
surrounding country. By one of these in 1693, the fine 
city Catania was totally destroyed, and about 18,000 
persons perished in its ruins. 

Sicily is exceedingly fertile, not only in wine, oil, silk, 
and the tropical fruits, ^uch as oranges, lemons, almonds, 
and figs, but especially in grain. It also affords a plenty 
of sustenance for the herds of cattle with which it abounds. 
It productions however would be still more abundant, if 
greater attention were paid to agriculture. The weather 
is so warm here even in January, that the shade is found 
refreshing. Grain is the'^staple commodity, and vast quan¬ 
tities are exported. Silk is the ^second source of riches. 

ii.es are made in every part of the country. 

the ^capital, carries on an extensive commerce. 
Its silk manufactures, it is said, employ 900 looms. The 
population is about 130,000. Messina also has an exten- 



St. Peter’i.Page 251. 



Great Wall in China.Page 276 










































































254 


TURKEY IN EUROPE. 


pure and wholesome ; notwishstandini®:, Turkey has been 
rej'eafedly visited with die p!a//ue. 

^Soil In the levci provinces of t.!ie north, the soil is 
rich and fertile ; in the soutliern parts it is frequently of 
a lighter nature Fertility however may be considered 
as its gene ai tharacterisfc. 

Productions. The ’^productions are much the same as 
those of Italy, Spain and Portugal. The northern prov¬ 
inces towards the Danube alfoid excellent grain and pas¬ 
turage ; the middle and southern parts wine and olives. 
Fruits of every kind, such as lemons, oranges, figs and 
almonds, arrive at the utmost perfection, particularly 
grapes, which have an uncommon degree of sweetness. 
Various drugs, not common in other parts, are also pro¬ 
duced here. But Turkish despotism operates as a per¬ 
petual check to agriculture and every kir.d of improve¬ 
ment ; and its banelul influence has changed some of the 
most fertile spots on the globe into barren deserts. 

The Turkish horses arc excellent for beauty and ser¬ 
vice. The cattle are ialfo. especially in Greece. Goats 
are in high estimation among the inhabitants, both for 
their milk and their flesh. 

Turkey in Europe contains a variety of nil sorts of 
mines, and its marbles are esteemed the finest in the world, 

Manufactures and Commerce. The ^chief manufactures 
of Turkey are carpets, of most distinguished beauty 5 
printed muslins, crapes, and gauzes ; brass cannon, mus¬ 
kets, and pistol barrels, which are much admired : moroc¬ 
co leather in large quantities and of the best quality. 

The commerce of Turkey is chiefly in the hands of 
foreigners. Tne ’chief exports are currants, figs, silk, 
cotton, carpets, coffee and drugs. The ’imports are cloth 
and various articles of European manufacture. The 
French possess the greatest share of the Turkey trade. 
It is carried on chiefly from the port of Marseilles. 

Chief Towns. ConttarUinople., anciently called Byzan¬ 
tium, is the ’capital of the Turkish empire, pleasantly sit¬ 
uated on the European side of the Bosphorus. Its appear¬ 
ance from the harbour is incomparably beautiful. Rising 
like an amphitheatre from the shores of the Propontis 
and Bosphorus, and crowning the summits of seven gent¬ 
ly swelling hills, the buildings appear in stages one above 
another ; and the whole city with its splemlid mosques, 
minerets, and especially the magnificent dome of Sancta- 
Bophia, presents itself at once to the view. But a stran- 


TURKEY IN EUROPE. 


255 


ger is disappointed on entpring tlie city, and disgusted 
iviili the narrowness of the streets, and the wretched ap¬ 
pearance of the houses belonging to the poorer inhab¬ 
itants. Some of the caravapseras, baths, and palaces, 
however, are very superb, and the chief mosque is said 
to be one of the finest temples in the world. The city, 
which is supposed to contain 400,000 inhabitants, is sur¬ 
rounded by a wall twelve miles in circumference ; and is 
frequent^y called the Porte, as being one of the surest 
and most commodious harbours in Europe. 

V Mrianople^ formerly the capital, is now the ^second 
city of European 'Puikey. It contains about 100,000 in¬ 
habitants, and has an extensive commerce. 

Saloniclii contains 70,000 inhabitants, and is ’distin¬ 
guished for its commerce. St. Paul addressed twoof his 
epistles to the ancient inhabitants of this place. 

Belgrade is a place of great resort for merchants from 
difte ent nations. The population is about 25,000. 

^Inhabitants. The Turks were originally from Scythia 
or 'Parrary. In their persons they are in general of a good 
stature, of an athletic form, and robust constitution. 
Their dress is the turban, or red bonnet, wrapped round 
with numerous folds of white muslin. The shirt is of 
calico, and a muslin or silk sash is always worn round the 
waist. The breeches are large, full, fastened at the knee, 
and hanging down in a fold nearly to the middle of the leg. 

Marriage in Turkey is merely a civil contract. The 
parties rarely see each other before its celebration. Every 
Mussulman is permitted by law to have four wives. The 
apartments of the women are separate from the rest of 
the house, and are never entered by any male except the 
master of the family. In writing they trace their lines 
from right to left. 

The morals of the Turks are loose in the extreme. 
Both sexes are ’distinguished for cleanliness ; and bathing 
is one of their stated amusements. They have little incli¬ 
nation to active diversions ; to enjoy the shade, to recline 
on a sofa, to smoke tobacco, and to intoxicate themselves 
with opium, are their ’chief amusements. 

Jieiigion. The Mahometan is the established religion 
of 'Purkey. It prohibits the use of wine, and enjoins 
prayer at five stated seasons of the day, with the face 
turned towards Mecca. 

Language. 'J’he 'I'urkish language is a diale'-t of the 
Ta«tarian 'Phe Greeks speak a moueinized Greek, and 
the Asiatic provinces, the Arabic. 


256 


ASIA. 


Governrnenf, The government is despotick. Theeni- 
peror, who is also called Sultan or Grand Seignior, is 
master of the lives and property of his subjects. Some of 
the emperors have exhibited all that is shocking and un- 
naanal in arbitrary power. 

The Greeks are now nobly struggling with the oppres¬ 
sive T urks TO gain their iiidependence ; and many sym¬ 
pathetic f iends in Christian countries are sending provis¬ 
ions and clothing to these brave and suffering people. 

Cvriosities. Almost every spot of ground, every river, 
and every fountain in Greece, presents the traveller w ith 
the remains of a celebrated aniiquity. On the isthmus of 
Corinth the ruins of ISieptune’s temple, and the theatre 
where the Isthmian gati es were celebrated, are still visi¬ 
ble. Athens abounds with them ; such as the remains of 
the temple of Minerva, and of the en»peror Adrian’s pal¬ 
ace ; the temple ot Theseus ; the lantern of Demosthenes, 
(a small round edifice of white marble ;) the temple of 
the winds ; the remains of the theatre of Bacchus ; the 
magnificent aqueduct of Adrian i and the temples of Ju¬ 
piter Olympus, and Augustus. At Bastri on the south 
side of Mount Parnassus, the remains of the temple of 
the oracle of Apollo, and the marble steps that descend 
to what is supposed to be the renowned Castilian spring, 
are still visible. 

Islands. Some of the most noted islands belonging to 
Tut key are Nep'opont., the ancient Euboea, fertile in grain, 
wine, and fruits ; Landia^ or Crete, in which is the famous 
Mount Ida, and the river Lethe : the wheat is of the finest, 
sort, and the wines are exquisite ; Rhodes., in which stood 
the celebrated col(»ssus of brass ; Cyprvs^ in which is the 
city Paphos, famous for its temple of Venus 5 Patmos, 
where St. 'John wiote the Apocalypse ; Phros, famous 
for its marble 5 and Lemnos for its mineral earth. 



Asia is particularly entitled to our admiration, not mere¬ 
ly on account of the fertility of its soil, the deiiciousncss 
of its fruits, the fragiancy of its plants, spices, and gums, 
the beauty and the variety of its gems, the riciiness of its 
metals, and the fineness of its cottons and silks, in all which 
it greatly exceeds Europe; but also as being the immediate 
scene of man’s creation, and a country which the ador< ble 
Messiah vouchsafed to honour with his birth, ‘jesidence, 


TURKEY IM ASIA. 


257 


and eYpiatory sufferings If was in Asia, according fu the 
sacred records, the a!l*wise Crea'.or planned fue ganlen of 
Eden, and f’oimed our first parents out of tlie dost ^f the 
ground ; here, subsequent to the destroying deluge, he 
acce|)ted the grateful sacrifice of Noah ; and b\ conlound- 
ing the languages at Babel, facilitated tlie plantitigof na¬ 
tions. It was in Asia God established his once beloved 
people the Jev* s, and gave them the lively oracles of truth ; 
here Jesus Christ performed the wondrous work of oui* 
rerlemption ; anrl heie the Christian faith vvas miraculously 
propagated, and sealed with the blood of unnumbered 
martyrs. Edifices also were reared, empires were found¬ 
ed, and the worship of the Most High was celebrated in. 
this division of the globe, while Euiope, Africa, and . 
America, were uninhabited and unexplored. 

Asia contains an immense population, not less, it has 
been supposi'd, than 400 millions of inhabitants, a number 
greater than that of all the rest of the world. 'Fhe ^rich- - 
est and best inliabited parts are within the torrid and the 
southern part of the te«nperale zones ; for the middle belt 
of this continent, which runs parallel to the finest coun¬ 
tries of Europe, is mostly-an immense desert ; ami all 
that lies to the north of this is a region of intense cold 
during a great part of the year. 

Asia, in former ages, was successively governed by the 
Assyrians, the Medes, the Persians, and the Greeks : but 
the extensive regions of India and China were imperfect¬ 
ly known to the conquerors of the ancient world Upon 
the annihilalion of these empires, Asia was reduced by the 
Romans, who carried their victorious arms even beyond 
the Ganges ; and the disciples of Mahomet, called Sara¬ 
cens, afterwards spread their devastations over this con¬ 
tinent, and transfitrmed the most populous and luxuriant 
spots, into wild and uncultivated deserts. 

TURKEY IN ASIA. 

^/ace of the Country. No country is more beautifully 
diversified with mountains, vallies, and fertile plains. 

Climnle. The ’climate is most excellent, being equally 
favtmrable to healili and vegetation. Heat in general 
’predominates ; but there is a p* culiar softness and seren¬ 
ity in the air perceivable in a few countries on the Euro- 
jiean side of the Archipelago. 

Soil, rhe ’soil, though rocky in many parts, is in gen¬ 
eral fertile, and well adapted to agriculture. 

X 2 


258 


TURKEY IN ASIA. 


ProdncHons. The Asiatic countries were the first in the 
world ulrich enjoyed tin* advantaiie of cuhivation. They 
have been ’famed tVoin rerjjoiest antiquity for their abun¬ 
dant harvests, and their plentiful vintage, their poaiey;ran- 
ates, their olives, and other excellent fruits. At present, 
agriculture is deplnrably neglected. In Asia Minor, and 
in Syria, wheat and barlev are chiefly rultivated. In the 
latter country, a considerable quamity of tobacco also, 
and some cotton, are produced. 'I'he vine grows sponta¬ 
neously, and wine is made by bviiling the liijuor immedi¬ 
ately after its expression from the grape. Mulberry trees 
are in abundance, so that any quantity of -ilk might be 
produced. A variety of’diugs u-ed in dyeing and in 
medicine, such as madder, jalap, opium, and scammony, 
may also be reckoned among the productions of these 
countries. 

Jlnimuls. The domestick quadrupeds, principally ’em¬ 
ployed for carriage, are the ass, the mule, and tlie camel. 
The finest horses are of the Arabian breed, and are re¬ 
served for persons of rank. Beef is neiiher plentiful nor 
gooil : but the mutton in many parts is excellent. The 
ibex haunts the summits of Caucasus. The wild boar and 
various kinds of deer are common in the forests. The 
lion is frequently seen on tlie banks of the Tigris, but 
se’ulom appears to the west of the Euphrates. The hyena 
is common towards the south, and .troops of jackals haunt 
the iieiglibouihood of towns, which they disturb by their 
nightly bowlings. The cities and villages here, as well 
as in Egypt and European Turkey, swarm with dogs 
which wander at laige without any owners. 

Toirns. is the ’principal city in Asiatic Turkey. 

It IS the centre of Syrian commerce. 'Fliree or four 
caravans proceed afinually through Asia Minor, from 
Alep|,o to Constantinople. Large caravans also frequent¬ 
ly arrive from Bagdad and Bassora, with coffee from Ara¬ 
bia. It c -Mtains manufactures of cotton and silk, and 
abeut 250.000 inhabiiants. 

Damascus is ’next in importance, being supposed to 
contain about 200,000 inhabitanrs. it is the seat of a 
considerable trade, and was once famous for its inanufac- 
tuie ol -word blades, whicli could not be broken, though 
bent in the ni(»st yiolent manner. 

ihigdj^d is a large and populnus city. The houses are 
generally of biick, with flat roof^, on which the inhabi¬ 
tants sleep. The siieecs are narrow and dirty, and swarm 


TUT<KEY IN ASIA. 




with scorpions and tarantulas, and other noxious insects, 
of which the stings are dangerous, and often prove fatal. 

Hassora is a place of great cominerciai resort, being 
frequented bj numerous vessels from Europe and India. 
It is also the ^great einporium of trade between Asiatic 
Turkey and the more eastern countries. 

Jerusalem is now an inconsiderable place. The inhab¬ 
itants are about SO.000, uho subsist chieHj bj the char¬ 
ity of pious pilgrims. 

Tyre^ once a famous citv, is now totally abandoned, ex¬ 
cept i)y a few fishermen, who sometirnes visit it to fish in 
the sur rounding waters, and on its rocks dry their nets. 

Smyrna is the ’princijral city of Asia Minor, and the 
third in Asiatic 'rurkey. It i' the ^chief mart of the IjC- 
vant trade, and contains about 140,000 inhabitants. 
Prussa is a beautiful city, in a romantic situation at the 
foot of Mtruni ()ivm[)us iJinrbtkir is a large and popu- 
Irojs city, built trf hewn stooe. All religious sects are 
here equallv tolerated. Erzerum and Sinope^ the for¬ 
mer tire capital of Ar menia, and the latter of Ponlus, are 
now places of little consequence. 

J^ubnyra is ’celebrated in modern times only for its ru¬ 
ins. 'These are descnberl as suilrlenlv bursting upon the 
traveller’s eye as he comes round an eminence in the wil¬ 
derness. and disclosing long rows of columns decorated 
with architectural ornaments, gigantic portals, and roofless 
temples. B.ilDec, the ancrent IIeln)polis, on the coast of 
Svria, is ’famed for a single magnificent ruin, that of the 
temple of the Sun, equally conspicuous for the vastness 
of its dimetusions, and the noble style of its architecture. 

Jnhabifojifs. The inhaoitants of these countries are of 
various origin. 'The Turks, as the rulers, possess the 
principal powei and property, and are the ’chief inhabit¬ 
ant" of the cities ; their habits and religion are the pre¬ 
dominant ones. The chri.^iians are mostly of the Greek 
church, and use the mode'n Greek language. 'T.ie Ar¬ 
menians constitute a particular sect of Christians, charac¬ 
terised bv rigorous fasts, and abundance of ritual observ* 
ances. 'The\ are much addicted to (ommerce, which 
they pursue t rough aTi.ost ail the countries td' the East, 
every where forming a distinct peo])le. and snictly adher¬ 
ing to their mi;riners and religion. They are frugal, po¬ 
lite and wary, and unuerstand all the mysierieb of traflie. 


^60 


BUSSI.4 IN ASIA. 


RUSSIA IN ASIA. 

Fact of the Country. Asiatic Russia, former! v known 
by the name of Siberia, displays less variatiofj vui lace 
than perhaps any other part of the gh)be ot equ.il extent. 
Although not vvliolly destitute of mountains, its ^principal 
character is that of an immense plain. It also contains 
some elevated and extensive steeps, abounding in salt 
lakes, a feature almost peculiar to Asia. The nortiiern 
and eastern |>aris consist chiefly of vast marshy plains, 
covered with almost pe' j-e^ual snow, and pervaded with 
laiiie rivers which pursue, under masses of ice, their 
dreary course to the Fruzen Ocean. 

Climate., Soih and Prodr>ctions. In the stmth-western 
part is a district, extemlin^ frojo the Volga to t’ne Uraiian 
mountains, which enjoys a jleliijinful climate and a ferule 
soil. Its forests present the cedar, the express, the ju¬ 
niper, the beech, and the oak ; and its orcliards produce 
the almoiiil, the fig. the peach, and ail the oilier fruits 
of the temperate re<»ions. Bulin t!ie rcreaiest part of the 
wide expanse of Siberia, none but the hardiest vegetables 
are found. Ti e middle region, however, presents im¬ 
mense forests of birch, aldei’, and the various species of 
pine> and firs. IVlany districts of Siberia are productive 
of grain. Some parts near the Oh yield pleniiful crops for 
20 vears successively Several districts are also well 
adapted to pasturage ; but in advancing towards the north, 
the forests gradually disappear, ami mosses of different 
kinds are the last traces of expiring vegetation. 

In the noithern parts of Siberia, the rain-deer is an 
useful substitute for the horse,, tlm cow, and the sheep. 
In Kamschatka, dogs are used for drawing carriages. 
The south is favoured with that noble animal, tlie iiorse, 
which, as well as the ass, is there found in its wild state. 
In this part also the caniel is not unlreqnent. Aniaiic 
Russia also abounds in various animals liighly ’valuable 
for their lurs, which are an important article of com¬ 
merce, such as the black fox, sable, ermine, beaver, 
marlin, and the marmot;e. 

Towns. Jlstrachan is the ’principal city in Asiatic Rus¬ 
sia, and. next to Petersburg and Moscow, the most impor¬ 
tant In die whole empire. It carries on a great t' aflic, 
espx'cialiy in the fisheries ol die Volga and the Ca'>piaii 
sea. Its leather manufac'orics an ! salt wo ks are also 
considerable. Its population, which consists of a 


INDEP. TARTARY....PERSIA. 


261 


singular assemblage of difterent nations, is estimated at 
70,0(»0. 

7'obohk^ the capital of a government of the same name, 
was formerly the capital of Siberia. It contains about 
15,000 inhabitants. Its commerce is now flouristdng. 
Irkutsk is the ^chicf mart of the commerce between Rus¬ 
sia and China. Ochotak is the port whence the commu¬ 
nication with Kamschatka is carried on. 

INDEPENDENT TARTARY. 

The name of Tar^ary has been generally applied to all 
the northern region of Asia, coorprehending Independent 
Tartai’y, Cliinese Tartary, 'Pibetainl Siberia, and \va- for¬ 
merly kmtwn by tlie name of Scythia, once a powerful 
empire. Mosi of this counti-v is now in a state (»f loose 
subjection to the Russian and Chinese empir'es. A part 
however, remains independent ; but being little known, 
w ill rerjuire but a brief description. . 

The northern parts’consists chiefly in barren and sandy 
plains, inhabited by the lver*guses, uho le.d a wandering 
life, and du ell in tents of felt which they carry about w ith 
them in their migr ations. They have hor ses, camels, cat¬ 
tle. sheep, and goats. 'Their ’chief food is mutton. 

Great Bucharta, by far tire ’most important part of In- 
depenrlent Tartar y, is described as one of the most inter- 
e-ting and agreeable countries in the world, being but 
little encumb»*red with mountains, but charmingly diver- 
sifled with hills and vallies, and blessed with a fruitful 
soil and delightful climate. 

The ’chief city is Samarcaud^ once the principal resi¬ 
dence of that terrible conqueror’, Timur, or 'Tamerlane, 
and the metropolis of an empire more extensive than tliat 
of Rome. But little is known of its present state. 

PERSIA. 

I'ace of the Country. The general ’face of the country 
is mountairrous. One of its most’remarkable features is 
the warri of rivers and wood, of which no country, except 
Arabia, is more destitute. Exterrsive sandy deserts like¬ 
wise frequently occur itt various parts, although some dis¬ 
tricts display the most luxuriant vegetation. 

Climate. The climate is exceedingly various. In the 
soutliern parts, the heat during at least four months in the 


262 


PERSIA. 


summer, is almost insupportable ; and the hot wind, call¬ 
ed Samiel. which reigns fiom the mouth of-tlie Indus to 
Arabia, and ascends towauls the north beyond Bagdad, 
is often as instantaneously fatal to li e traveller as a musket 
shot, those who are struck with the sudden blast immedi¬ 
ately dropping down dead. The camels readily perceive 
its approach, and are sai<l to u:ive warning of the danger, 
by making an unusual noise, andthursting their noses in¬ 
to the sand Whe)i its coining can be perceived, the on¬ 
ly ^means of escape is to fall iiat on the ground until it is 
over, which is gencrallv in two or three minutes. 

The eastern provinces, fiom the north of ihe Indus to 
the borders of Tartary, are also subject to extreme heats, 
but are not so insalubrious as the southern coasts. In all 
these parts the air is perfectly serene ; it seldom rains, 
and a cloud is rarely seen. 

Soil. The ^soil in general is unfertile, being mostly 
sandy aii<l dry. 'Fhe rivers of Central Persia are fre¬ 
quently lost, and wholly disappear in the sandy deserts 
of the interior, 'f he chief industry of the farmer is em¬ 
ployed in watering his lands. These, remarks apply 
however only to the central and southern provinces ^ 
Those in the north are sufficiently moist and fertile. 

Productions. Wheat and rice are the kinds of grain 
most ’generally cuPivated, both of which are excellent 5 
but the latter is generally preferred for food. Barley 
and millet are also produced in considerable quantities. 
The ’other principal productions are cotton, silk, fruit of 
most all kinds in the highest perfection 5 also abundance 
of drugs, among which is the asafoetida. 

The Persian horses are much esteemed. Mules are 
chiefly used for servile purposes ; the camel is the ’prin¬ 
cipal beast of burden. The horned cattle are small and 
lean. Sheep are common, but hogs are no where kept, 
except near tlie Caspian. Pigeons are more numerous 
here, than in any part of the world. 

On the western coast of the Caspian sea are copious 
springs of naphtha, or fossil oil. The earth, when dug to 
the depth of two or three inches, easily takes fire. 

Manufactures and Trade. The’principal manufactures 
are of silk, woollen, moliair, carpets and leather. 'Phe 
Persian trade has always been chiefly in the hands of for¬ 
eigners ; ai: present it is very inconsidv^rable. The natives 
are adverse lotim sea, and never possess any naval power. 

Towns, /s/ja/irm is saitl to contain 400.000 inhabitants, 
and is thought to be one of the finest cities of the East» 


ARABIA. 


26S 


Its palaces, mosques, caiavanseras, and baths, are ex¬ 
tremely ma^uilicent. S/iiras,, the secotnl ci^y in Persia, 
is situated in a fertile plain, encoJiipassed on .ill sides with 
lofty mountains. The trees in the pubiick ;;ardens are 
said to be some of the larijest in the world, and the wines 
are reckoned the best throughout the East. Herat car¬ 
ries on a considerable ti ade. Mesr.hid contains the tomb 
of Musa, one of the twelve great Innansof Persia. 'Piilis 
is the capital of the province of Georgia. It is populous, 
but meanly built. Its chief trade is in furs. 

Inhabitants. The Persians are generally handsome, but 
their complexions towards tlie south are somevvhat swar¬ 
thy. They shave the head, but the beard is held sacred, 
and managed with great care. Vhey ’are noted for their 
vivacity, gay dressing, humanity, and hospitality. 'Pheir 
dress is simple, but toe rn.iterials of their cloths are com¬ 
monly very expensive, consisting of valuable stutts, richly 
embroidered with gold and silver. I'hey wear at all 
times a dagger in their sash, and linen trousers. 

Jieligioti, The religion is Mahometanism. The Per¬ 
sian language is accounted the sweetest and most elegant 
of all the Oriental languages, and its prevalence in the 
East may be compared to that of the French in Europe. 

The government is despotic, and frequently rigorous 
and tyrannical. 

Curiosities. The remains of the ancient capital of this 
empire, the famous Persepolis, are still visible, and present 
a magnificent display of massy portals, spacious halls, and 
broken columns. The tombs of the Persian kings, cut 
out of a rock, and the modern pillar at Ispahan, of the 
sculls of beasts, are also great curiosities. 

The Jifghans^ of East Persia, a fierce and warlike peo¬ 
ple, have conquered the western provinces of Hindostan 
and southern part of I'artary, and formetl a modern king¬ 
dom, called CabulisPAN, or Afghanistan. Cabul, its 
capital, contains about SOO.OOtJ ifdiahltants. 

Cashmere, (formerly belonging to llindostan,) the capi¬ 
tal of a delightful province of tiie same name, is now an 
appendage of Afghanistan. It instill’famous for the man¬ 
ufacture of its unrivalled sliawls. 


ARVBIA. 

Face of the Country. Arabia ’consists chiefly of dry 
sandy deserts, uiicj ly unfit f(»r the residence of man, being 
eitlieV wiiolly destitute of water, and toiisequcnlly ol veg- 


264 


ARABIA. 


etation, or furnishin;; only scanty springs of that which is 
brackish, and a few scattered fertile spots, called oases, 
which appear like islands in immense oceans of sand. 
Such particularly are the north-eastern and central parts, 
called DcNcrta or the Desert, Arabia Petrea, or that 
part bordering on Egypt and Syria, presents a rugged sur¬ 
face of granitic stones. Arabia Felix, which is the south¬ 
ern angle, bordering on the Red Sea and Indian Ocean, 
called also by the inhabitants Yemen, is agreeably diver¬ 
sified, and generally of a fertile appearance. 

Climate and Soil. The air in Arabia is excessively hot 
and dry, and the country subject to hot poisonous winds, 
particularly the samiel, already described in treating of 
Persia, of which a single inhalation is death. The soil in 
some parts is nothing more than immense sands, which, 
when agitated by the winds, roll like the troubled ocean, 
and sometimes bury whole caravans in their fury. The 
southern, and those parts bordering on the seas, are gen¬ 
erally fertile. 

^Productions. The coffee of Arabia is esteemed the 
best in the world. Wheat, maize, barley, and lintels, are 
also cultivated ; likewise tobacco, the sugar < ane, and 
some cotton 5 dates, pomegranates, oranges, and Indian 
figs; myrrh, aloes, and frankincense. 

Among the domestic animals, the first place must be 
assigned to the horse, of which Arabia claims tlie noblest 
breed in the world. Camels are also found here in abun¬ 
dance. These animals are amazingly fitted by Providence 
for traversing the dry and parched deserts of this country, 
as they can subsist six or eight days without water, and 
will carry 800 pounds weiglU upon their backs, which is 
not taken off during theirjjurney, for they kneel down to 
rest, and in due time rise with their load. It is by means 
of caravans of these animals, that goods and passengers 
are conveyed from the shores of the Red Sea to the Per¬ 
sian Gulf, and the cities of Syria, which would otherwise 
be destitute of all mutual communication. ' \ 

Cities. Mecca and Medina are the ^most celebrated 
cities ; but being holy ground which no infidel is permit¬ 
ted to approach, little is known of these places with cer¬ 
tainty. Mecca is situated on a barren spot in a valley. 
What chiefly supports it is, the annual re.^ort of many 
thousand pilgrims. It was the birth-place of Mahomet. 
Medina is the place where he was bmied. Here is a 
stately mosque, suppurted by 400 pillars, and furnished 


ARABIA. 


2G5 


with 500 silver lamps which are continually burning. 
His coffin is covered with cloth of gold, under a canopy 
of silver tissue. 

Jedda is the ’seaport of Mecca. Here the coininerce 
between Arabia and Europe meets, and is interchanged. 
Sana is reputed the most ’considerable city in Arabia. It 
contains several caravanseras for merchants and travel¬ 
lers. Mocha is a port considerably frequented by English 
ships from llindostan. It gives name to the finest coffee, 
of which it is the ’chief place of export. Kesem is the 
residence of a sovereign prince, to whom belongs the 
island of Socotra^ ’famous for its aloes. Mmcat is a place 
of considerable commerce, and a ’mart of the trade be¬ 
tween Arabia, Persia and the Indies. Suez, anciently 
called Bernice, is situated on the isthmus of the same 
name, in a sandy country without water; where plants 
and trees are entirely unknown, and destitute of all the 
necessaries of life except fish. 

^Inhabitants. The Arabians are of a middle stature, 
thin, and of a sw'arthy complexion. They are exceeding¬ 
ly abstemious, meat being little used even by the rich, 
and their only drink being water or coffee. They are of 
two classes, those of the cities, and those of the desert. 
The former are civilized,hospitable,and polite; tlie latter 
are robbers by profession, being, as is supposed, the pos¬ 
terity of Ishmael, the son of Abraham, of whom it was 
foretold, they should be invincible, and that their hands 
should be against every man, and every man’s hand 
against them. These robbers, headed by a captain, trav¬ 
erse the country in troops, on horseback, and assault and 
plunder the caravans,unless strongly guarded by soldiers. 

Religion. Their religion is Mahometanism, introduced 
by that famous arch impostor, Mahomet, who died in G29. 

Language^ ^-c. The Arabic language is celebrated as 
being exceedingly copious and expressive. In former 
ages the Arabians were famous for their learning, and 
skill in the liberal arts. At present tliere are few nations 
where the people are more universally ignorant, although 
they are not wholly destitute of colleges, academies, and 
schools. 

Government. The inland country is under the govern¬ 
ment of many petty princes, styled shieks. They have 
no other laws than those found in the Koran, and the 
comments upon it. The northern Arabs ow'C subjection 
to the Turks. 


Y 


266 


HINDOSrAN. 


HINDOSTAN. 

INDIA WITHIN THE GANGES- 

Face, of the Country, Hindustan consists chiefly of 
extensive plains, fertilized by numerous rivers and 
streams, and interspersed with a few ranges of mo,un- 
tains, none of which are of any remarkable elevation. 

Rivers, The ^principal rivers of India are the Gan¬ 
ges^ the Burrampooter^ and the Jndusy all of them 
mighty streams, and held in the highest veneration by 
the superstitious Hindoos, who suppose their waters have 
the power of washing away sins. 

Tne Ganges is more than 2,000 *miles in length. It 
flows through the plains of Hindostan, a distance of 1,350 
miles, with a smooth navigable stream, from half a mile, to 
three *miles wide, and after receiving the Burrampooter, 
a river from four to five ’miles wide, discharges itself by 
numerous mouths into the Bay of Bengal, The Delta or 
island formed by the Ganges, in that part bordering on 
the sea, is 180 miles in width, composed of a multitude 
of creeks and rivers, forming an intricate labyrinth, call¬ 
ed the suNDERBUNDS, and is so completely involved in 
the woods, and so much infested with tigers, that every 
attempt to clear it has hitherto miscarried. 

The Indus^ by the natives called Sinde, is a fine, deep, 
navigable river ; its entrance, however, is much choked 
with sand. All these rivers, swelled by the periodical 
rains, overflow their banks. The inundation in the lower 
parts of Bengal, contiguous to the Ganges and Burrampoo- 
ter, about the end of July, is more than lOO miles in width. 

^Climate^ Soil and Productions. Hindostan towards the 
north is pretty temperate, but hot towards the south, and 
it rains almost constantly for three months in the year. 
No part of the surface of the globe presents a n»ore fertile 
’soil than the well watered tracts of this prolific region. 
Double harvests, and two crops of fruit from many of the 
trees, have from time immemorial been the support of a 
numerous population. Rice is the grain that is ’chiefly 
cultivated, and constitutes the ’principal food of the Hin¬ 
doos. The cultivation of cotton is widely diffused. Mil¬ 
let, oranges, lemons, figs, and pomegranates are produc¬ 
ed in abundance. The sugar cane succeeds well ; 
likewise, opium, indigo and tobacco. 

The forests present a wonderful luxuriance of vegeta¬ 
tion, and the number of creeping plants, of prodigious 


HINDOSTAN. 


267 


Size and length, extending from tree to tree, connect the 
whole into one mass of verdure. 

Horses and wild cattle are numerous. The sheep in 
all the southern parts are covered with hair instead of 
wool. Camels are not uncommon as beasts of burden. 
Elephants are frequent, both wild and tamed. 

Almost every species of ferocious animals is found 
here except the lion. 'I’hat most ’dreaded both by man 
and beast, is the royal tiger of Bengal, at once the most 
beautiful, and the most terrible of carnivorous animals. 

Minerals. Mineral ores are very little known ; but 
the diamond mines of Golconda are peculiarly celebrated. 

Manufactures. The most ’considerable manufactures 
are those of cotton, many of which are exquisitely fine 
and beautiful. 

Towns. Calcutta., the chief city of Bengal, and of all 
the British possessions in India, is ’situated on the river 
Hoogly, or western arm of the Ganges, and contains, as 
is supposed, about 650,000 inhabitants. The houses are 
variously built, some with brick, others with mud, and a 
great number with bamboos and mats, making a most 
motley appearance. The mixture of European and 
Asiatic manners here is wonderful. Coaches, palan¬ 
keens, carriages drawm by bullocks, and the passing cere¬ 
monies of the Hindoos, form a diversified and curious 
scene. Its commerce is very extensive. 

The western part of Calcutta, called Chouringhee, is 
w'orthy of particular notice. It is inhabited by the Com¬ 
pany’s Civil and military Officers, and the Europeans of 
opulence and rank. The government house is an im¬ 
mense and superb palace, situated on a beautiful plain, 
enclosed with an iron railing. Its principal avenues are 
under four lofty triumphal arches. The site of this mag¬ 
nificent edifice is called Wellesley Place. The private 
houses at this “Court end of the town,” are built in the 
Grecian style of architecture, and presenting their elegant 
porticoes, and extensive collonades of pillars in front, sur¬ 
mounted by Attick pediments, appear fit residences fof 
princes, instead of the quiet scenes of domestic life* 

The college at Fort William, or Wellesley College, is 
situated in Calcutta. It is an establishment honourable 
to the character of its great founder, the Marquis W'elles- 
ley, late Governor General of Bengal. The junior civil 
servants of the Company are placed in this college on 
tbeir arrival in India, and instructed in the various Ian- 


HINDOSTAN^ 


26-B 

guages of the country. The usual term of residence is 
three years ; but such as distinguish themselves by indus¬ 
try, and make suitable proficiency, are appointed to lucra¬ 
tive officers at an earlier period. There is an annual Com¬ 
mencement, or visitation, when, after due examination, 
the best Oriental scholars receive a degree of honour, ac¬ 
companied with a handsome present in money or books. 
On the improvement of their time in this excellent semi¬ 
nary, in a great measure depend their advancement in 
life, and future fortune. 

A town hall is erected in Calcutta, which is to serve as 
an exchange for merchants and a place of deposit for the 
statues, pictures, &c. of.Lord Cornwallis, Mr. Hast¬ 
ings, Marquis Wellesley, and other Governors-General, 
Judges, &c. This magnificent edihce cost upwards of 
three hundred and fifty thousand dollars. 

In Calcutta there are two Episcopal churches, and one 
chapel for the Baptists. The services in the former are 
performed by the East India Company’s chaplains; in the 
latter by the Missionaries on the Serampore establish¬ 
ment, which is a flourishing and successful institution for 
diflusing the gospel in India. 

Moorshedahad is a large but ill built city, at present in 
a state of decline. Patna is a place of considerable trade, 
particularly in saltpetre. Benares is rich and populous. 
Several Hindoo temples and magnificent buildings embel¬ 
lish the banks of the river. This is the ancient seat of 
Braminical learning. Agra^ once a most fiimous and opu¬ 
lent city, has rapidly declined of late. The Great Mogul 
used sometimes to reside here. His palace was prodig¬ 
iously large, and the seraglio contained about 1000 wom¬ 
en, with numerous palaces, caravanseras, baths, mosques, 
and mausoleums. Dellii^ once a large, rich and populous 
city, and the capital of the Mogul empire, is now, for 
the most part, in ruins. Lahore is the capital of the 
Seiks, a new power, whose name was scarcely known till 
they rose on the ruins of the Mogul empire. 

Madras is a British fort and town, ^next in importance 
to Calcutta. It is close to the margin of the sea, from 
which it makes a beautiful appearance. Pondicherry is 
a French, and Tranquehar a noted Dutch Settlement. *S'e- 
ringapatam^ lately the capital of Tippoo’s dominions, is 
now’ in possession of the British. Goa is a settlement of 
the Portuguese, and a noted seat of their inquisition, 
which, however, is now abolished. Visiapour is a gor- 


HINDOSTAN. 


269 


siderable city. The celebrated diamond mines are in its 
vicinity. Bombay is a well known British settlement. 
The inhabitants are of several nations, and very numer¬ 
ous. Surat contains a p»){:ulation, it is said, of 500,000 in¬ 
habitants. It isalso a place of considerable trade. Carii- 
hay is a handsome city, formerly of great trade in spice, 
ivory, cotton cloths, and silk, whicli is now chiefly trans¬ 
ferred to Surat. Juggprnaiit is ^noted for being the seat 
of a fanious idol of the Hindoos. Of the multitudes 
^^hich visit this place at the annual festival, many perish 
on their journey, and the ground for the distance of 50 
miles is strewed with Inunan bones and sculls. 

^Inhabitants. The Uln -oosareof a dark complexion, 
with long black hair. I'heir persons are straight, their 
limbs neat, their fingers long and tapering, and their 
countenances open and pleasant. 

They are ’divided into four different tribes or casts ; 
the Brahmins, or priests ; the soldiers ; the labourers, 
including farmers and tradesmen ; and the mechanics. 
These different casts are forbiilden to intermarry, to 
dwell, to eat, or drink with each other. 

The diet of the Hindoos is simple, ’consisting chiefly 
of rice, nd.lk, and veiretables. Animal food ami intoxi¬ 
cating liquors are utterly prohibiteil, particularly among 
the lower casts. 

In character they are mihl, gentle, timid, and submis¬ 
sive. They are jiermitteil a pfurality of wives ; but one 
is looked upon as superior to the rest. 'fhe shocking 
custom of women burning themselves on the death ot 
their husbands is becoming less frequent. 

The MahoH>etans, or Moors, as they are called, of 
whom there are considerable numbers in Hindustan, are 
a more athletic and vigorous race, and distinguished from 
the Hindoos by a fairer complexion. flmy are much less 
submissive and gentle; and though equally bigoted-to 
their religion, are extremely diss(dai.e in their manners., 

Jieligion. 'Fhe religion ot the Hindoos is artfully inter¬ 
woven with all the common offi es of life. They vvor- 
ship images, and, tinder the influence of their wretched 
superstition, will frequently ilevote themselves to certain 
and painful death, throwing themselves on large iron 
hooks, fastened to the wheels of the carriages by which 
their images are tlrawn, or casting themselves on the 
ground fur the wheels to pass over them and crush them 
to death. 

Y 2 


270 


BIRMAW EMPfJlE. 


Government. Hindostan is divided into many govern¬ 
ments, the forms of which are various. 

Islands. Ceylon is a remarkably fine island, containing 
1,500,000 inhabitants. Its peculiar and most’valuable 
product is cinnamon, the best in the world. Pepper, car¬ 
damon, and other spices, are also natives here. The low 
lands are amazingly fertile in rice. Elephants and tigers 
abound in the forests, and alligators in the rivers. Many 
other wild animals and tremendous reptiles might also be 
mentioned. Gold, iron, plumbago, and various precious 
stones,are among its’mineral products. In one of its bays 
is a beautiful pearl-fishery, which is frequented by a mul¬ 
titude of divers from different parts. The natives are 
called Cinglese, and are of Hindoo origin. Columbo,i\\Q 
capital, containing 50,000 inhabitants, and Candy, in the 
interior, are the ’principal tuvvns. The English captured 
the Dutch settlements in 1796, and in 1815, they com¬ 
pleted the conquest of the island. In Coliunbo, the Bap¬ 
tists and Wesleyan Methodists have missionaries and 
schools. On this island, in the district of Jaff na, is a suc¬ 
cessful missionary station, established by the American 
Board of Commissioners for Foreign Missions. 

The Maidive and Laccadive islands are uninteresting. 
The inhabitants speak the Cinglese language. Their 
trade is chiefly in coweries, cocoa nuts anel fish. Amber¬ 
gris is frequently collected on the shores of the islands of 
these seas. 

BIRMAN EMPIRE. 

INDIA BEYOND THE GANGES. 

The Birman empire is a beautifully diversified and fer¬ 
tile country, producing abundant crops of rice, wheat, su¬ 
gar canes, tobacco, indigo, cotton, and tlie different tropi¬ 
cal fruits in perfection. The teak tree is the glory of its 
forests. Some of the finest merchant ships ever seen in 
the Thames, have been built at Calcutta, of teak wood, 
from the forests of Pegu. 

'Phe ’mineral products are rich 5 gold in profusion dec¬ 
orates their temples and palaces, and the inferior metals 
are found in abundance. That precious gem, the true 
ruby, is almost peculiar to Pegu and some other parts of 
the empire. Amber is dug in large quantities near the 
Irrawftdy. 

Mam^actures and Trade. The Birmans ’excel ingilding, 
and in several other ornamental manufactories. The 
chief trade of this country is with China and British India. 


MALACCA, 


271 


Towns, Ummerapoora^ the new capital, with its turrets 
and spires, seems to rise, like Venice, out of the waters, 
being situated bet\yeen a lake and the river Irrawady.; 
The fort is an exact square, with publick granaries and 
storerooms ; and there is a gilded temple at each corner, 
nearly 100 feet in height, but far inferior to others in the 
vicinity. Population, 17'5,000. 

Rangoon is the ’chief port of the Birman empire. It is 
of recent foundation, and is supposed to contain above 
30,000 inhabitants. The American Baptists in 1813 es¬ 
tablished here a missionary station. 

Numerous towns and villages crowd the banks of the 
river Irrawady, which seems to be the centre of the pop¬ 
ulation of the empire. 

’^Inhabitants. The Birmans are a bold, enterprising 
people. In war they display the ferocity of savages x iu 
peace they show considerable gentleness and civilization. 
No female is permitted to leave the country, lest it should 
injure the population. Their edifices and barges, con¬ 
structed in a singular style of oriental elegance, attest 
the excellence of their geni«s, which seems to want 
notJiing but culture. 

Rdigion and Literature. The Birmans profess the Hin¬ 
doo religion ^ but their priests are reckoned inferior to 
the Brahmins of Hindostan in learning. Theyhave many 
books, w hich are kept in great order and neatness. 

Government. Tlie government is despotic, and the 
laws in Some instances are very severe. Desertions or 
cowardice in a soldier is punished by the execution of 
his wife, children, and parents. An innocent wife or 
daughter ma}' be seized and sold into slavery, to dis- 
charjre the debt of her husband. 

O 


MALACCA. 

Malacca is a large peninsula, about 150 miles in breadth. 
The inland parts are overgrown with forests, which are 
infested with ele|)hauts, tigers, and wild boars. 

Agriculture is chiefiy ’employed in the. growth of rice •, 
pepper and other spices, valuable gums and wood, are 
also among its products. Malacca is ’noted through the 
East for its tin mines ; gold is said to be found iu the 
sand of tlie .streams. 

i’he inhabitants are ’called Malays. They are below 
the uiiduie size, of a tawny complexion, with long black 


SIAM. 


hair 5 of a restless disposition, greatly ’addicted to navi¬ 
gation, war,pi under, emigration and desperate enterprisesf 
insomuch, that they are universally considered, by those 
with whom they have intercourse, as the most treacher¬ 
ous and ferocious people on the globe. Malay barks, not 
carrying above thirty men, have been known to attack by 
surprise European vessels of thirty or forty gu?is ; and to 
obtain possession of them, by suddenly boarding and mas- 
sacreing the greater part of the crew with their poinards. 
M hen engaged as sailors in foreign ships, they are never 
to be trus:ed ; and when employed as domestics, the least 
aflfront is capable of exciting them to the most desperate 
revenge. 

Their religion is Mahometanism. The Mctlayan lan¬ 
guage, which, in contrast to the character of the people, 
IS the softest and most melodious dialect of the East, is 
widely diffused through that part of the world, and serv,es 
the purpose of general couiinutiication 

Malacca^ its capital, containing about 1 ' 2,000 inhabi¬ 
tants, was taken from the Dutch bv the Englisn, in 1795. 
The London Missionary Society have established here a 
successful missionary station. 

Islands, Opposite to the coast of Malacca, though at 
some distance from it, are the islands Jindaman and 
JVicobar, 

The greater Andaman is about 140 miles in length. 
The ’soil is a black rich mould. 'The forests produce 
ebony and other valuable wooils. Th'* only quadrupeds 
are wild hogs, monkies, and rats. The oaiives, w 10 are 
about 2000 in number, are woolly headed negroes, reiseni- 
bling those of Africa. A British serileineot has lately 
been formed on this island, and aome v onvicts seni thith¬ 
er from Bengal. 

The Nicobar islands are three in nu nber. 'The most 
remarkable production is a kind of bread fruit, said to 
weigh from 20 to 30 pounds. 


SIAM. 

Siam consists of an extensive vale pervaded by a largfe 
river, and enclosed 00 each side by a jidge of lofty moun¬ 
tains. Tliey^’soil is extreinely richj'j^nd the r liinaie, being 
hot, greatly promoter fertility. The chief’agricultural 
product is rice, which is here'of an excellent quality. 

The elephants of Siam are ’remarkatjle for clieir sa¬ 
gacity and beauty, as well as for their size. 


tAOS AND CAMBODIA... COCHIN CHINA, £7^' 


The S iamese are of a dark complexion, with features 
of the Tartarian or Chinese cast. I’he men are exti eme- 
ly indolent, and leave the most laborious occupations to 
the M'omen. 

Literature is considerably cultivated. The youth are 
commonly educated in tlie convents of monks, where they 
are taught to read, and write, and cast accounts. Their 
religion resembles that of the Hindoos, one of its leading 
doctrines being tliat of the transmigration of souls. The 
government is despotic, and the sovereign is revered with 
honours almost divine. The laws are extremely severe^ 
the most trifling oftences being punished by death, or mu¬ 
tilation, such as the cutting oft'of a foot or a hand. 

Siam, or Juthia, situated on an island in the Meinam^ 
is the capital. 


LAOS AND CAMBODIA. 

Beyond the range of mountains which forms the east-^ 
ern boundary of Siam, another wide plain or valley ap¬ 
pears, pervaded by the river tTapancse, Of this tract, 
the upper or northern portion is the kingdom of Laos, 
the lower or southern portion is Cambodia. 

’abounds in rice, and produces excellent benzoin 
and musk, gum lac, gold and ivory. The inhabitants 
resemble the southern Chinese : but their relisrion and 
manners are similar to those of Siam. Cambodia is also 
fertile in rice, and abundant in animal food. It likewise 
affordy-a great.plcnty of ivory, and several valuable kinds 
of wood ; but the ®^peculiar product is the substance call¬ 
ed Gamboge, or more properly Camboge gum, which 
yields a fine yellow tint, and is also a powei ful medicine. 
The country is tlnnly peopletl •, many of the inhabitants 
are Chinese, Malays, and Japanese settlers. 

COCHIN CHINA and TONQUIN. 

The whole remainder of India beyond the Ganges con¬ 
sists of a long range of land, forming the eastern coast, 
and bounded internally by a chain of mountains, separat¬ 
ing it from Cambodia and Laos. Of this tract the south¬ 
ern and narrower part is called Cochin China ; the north¬ 
ern, which sjneads into a greater bieadth, is Tonquin. 

Cochin China is a rich and fertile district. The ’chief 
agricultural production is rice. Sugar is also cultivated 




CHINESE EMPtRE. 


M'itli success, and purified bv an excellent method. The 
ecfible hire's’ nests, formed by a species of shallows front 
some unknown viscous substance, and esteemed a luxury 
in China, are chieHy found in tliis country. 

The inhabitants are said to be large, muscular, and well 
made. Thev are of Chinese origin, and appear to have 
made considerable progress in civiliza'ion. The supe¬ 
rior ranks are clothed in silk. Tltc houses are gener¬ 
ally constructed of bamboo, thatclied with rice^straw or 
rnslies, and stand in groves of lime, orattges, and cocoa- 
trees. 

Innqidn^ divided from Cochin-China only by a small 
river, is said to be at present incorporated with it by con¬ 
quest. The inhabitants resemble their neighbours, the 
Chinese, from whom they, in all probability, descended, 
but seem to have made less progress in civilization. The 
capital, Kesho, is said to possess a population of 40,000. 


CHINESE EMPIRE* 

The Chinese empire unites under one sceptre a greater 
number of human beings, than any other single dominion 
on the globe. It also stands more apart than any other 
from the rest of the civilized world in situation, language, 
and laws. 

Face of the Country. China Proper presents many low 
tracts, watered by numerous rivers, and cut through by 
canals ; yet ranges of mountains are frequent, and large 
spaces are occupied ^ dry and barren deserts. 

Climate^ Soil and Productions. The ^climate is various^. 
The southern parts about Canton are hot; but the cold 
in the northern parts is severe during the winter months. 
The air, however, in general, is serene, and appears to 
be salubrious. 

The ’soil is either by nature or art fruitful of ever^^ 
thing that can minister to the necessities, conveniences, 
or luxuries of life. The culture of the cotton and rice 
fields, from which the bulk of the inhabitants are clothed 
and fed, is ingenious almost beyond description. The 
tallow-tree produces a fiuit having all the qualities of our 
tallow, and when manufactured with oil, serves the na¬ 
tives as candles. 

But the tnost ’celebrated vegetable product of China is 
TjiA, which is exported in vast quantities to England and 



CHINESE EMPIRE, 


275 


the United States. It is the leaf of a shrub, planted in 
rows on hilly land. 

Agriculture is held in high estimation in thi’ country ; 
and once every year, at tlie vernal equinox, tUe Chinese 
monarch, after a solemn offering to the God of heaven 
and earth, performs the ceremony of holding the plough, 
an example in which lie is followed by all the great offi¬ 
cers in every part of the empii e. 

Uncommon attention is paid tothe collecting of manure, 
and great labour is bestowed in watering and working the 
lands, which for the most part is done with the spade, 
without the aid of oxen or horses. The emperor is sole 
proprietor of the soil, and receives one tentn of the pro¬ 
duce. From tlie scarcity of cattle tlie Chinese have but 
little milk, and seem unacquainted with butter and cheese. 

Canals. The ’inland navigation of China is unparallel¬ 
ed on the face of the globe. The imperial canal is more 
•than 600 miles in length. It is 50 feet wide, and inter¬ 
sects China from norm to south. One large canal gener¬ 
ally runs through every province, from which a vast 
number of smaller ones branch out to almost every town 
and village. 

Manufactures and Commerce. The manufactures are 
numerous ; the most ’celebrated is that of porcelain, call¬ 
ed China ; ’next in importance are thoseof cotton and silk. 
The Chinese pay but little regard to foreign commerce. 
The merchant here is considered far below the husband¬ 
man ; but tlie internal trade is immense. 

Towns. Pekin., ’the capital, is 14 miles in circumfer¬ 
ence, and is supposed to contain 3,000,000 inhabitants. 
It is surrounded bv a wall from 25 to 30 feet in height, 
with nine gates, wtiich are lofty and well arched. The 
houses are seldom more than one story high, with the 
windows from the street. 'I'lie emperor’s palace pre¬ 
sents a prodigious assemblage of vast building', and mag¬ 
nificent gardens- The streets are straight, most of them 
three miles in length and 120 feet wide, w ith shops on 
each side. All the great streets are guarded by soldiers, 
who patrol night and day, with swords by their sides and 
whips in their hands, to preserve peace and good order. 

Nankin., formerly the capital, and the most extensive 
city in the empire, is now on the decline. The ’chief 
edifice is a celebrated tower covered with porcelain, 200 
feet in height. 

Canton is a large, populous, ami wealthy city, contain¬ 
ing, as is supposed, 1,500,000 inhabitants, many ot whom 


CHINESE EMPIRE. 


live in barks on the water ; they touch one another, and 
are so arranged as to form streets, constituting a kind of 
floating city. This is the only port to which European 
and American vessels are admitted. The chief’^export 
is tea. 

The other large cities of China are almost innumera¬ 
ble, and many of the villages are of a surprising size. 

^Mhahitants. The Chinese are middle sized, with broad 
faces, small black e/es, blunt noses, high cheek bones,and 
large lips. They shave their heads, except a lock on the 
crown. Their dress is long, with large sleeves, and a 
flowing girdle of silk. They eat almost every kind of 
animal. Polygamy is permitted. The women are held 
in the greatest state of subjection. A singular custom is 
that of swathing their feet in bandages from infancy, so 
as to pre\ent their growth, to any proportionable size. 
The parties in marriage never see each other till the bar¬ 
gain is concluded by their parents. Female children, 
which they are unable to support, they are allowed to cast 
into the river. White is the ^colour of mourning. Their 
amusements are dramatick exhibitions, feats of dexterity, 
and fire-works, in which they excel all other nations. 

Religion. There is no state religion in China. None 
is paid, preferred, or encouraged. The Chinese have no 
Sunday, nor even such a division as a week 5 the temples 
however, are open every day for the visits of devotees. 
Christian missionaries have been sent into some parts of 
these vast dominions, and the Holy Scriptures are nowin 
a course of translation into the Chinese language. 

Language and Education. The Chinese language is 
the most singular of any in the world. It consists not of 
letters, but of characters, each of which has the same sig¬ 
nification as a word in other languages. Education, to a 
certain degree, is much attended to, and men of letters 
are singularly respected. Books are printed from blocks, 
after the manner of wooden cuts. 

Government.- The government is patriarchal and des¬ 
potic. The emperor is considered as standing in the 
same relation of absolute and revered master to the whole 
nation, that the head of a family does to all the members 
of it. 

Jlntiquity. The most ^remarkable antiquity of China is 
its Great Wall, erected as a barrier against the northern 
Tartars. It is a most stupendous work, of the computed 
length of 1500 miles, traversing mountains and vallies, 
and crowned with towers at short intervals. 


EMPIRE OF JAPAN. 


S7T 

Chinese Tartary. 

Chinese Tartary^ is a vast elevated plain, Consisting chief¬ 
ly of dry sandy deserts, but frequently interrupted by fer¬ 
tile tracts in the courses of rivers, and crossetl in various 
parts by mountainous ridges. The true rhubarb is pro¬ 
duced in this country, and also a drug of high esteem in 
China, the Ginseng, regarded almost as an universal medi¬ 
cine. The inhabitants are Moguls, a wandering people, 
and the Mandshures, who dwell mostly in fixed habitations. 

TIBET. 

Tibet is an elevated country, encumbered with high 
mountains, the tops of which are covered with perpetual 
snow. The Himaleh mountains, between Tibet and Cash¬ 
mere, are said to be 27,677 feet above the level of the 
sea, the highest elevation yet known on the globe. The 
Coil presents a general aspect of sterility. The Climate 
even in the 27th degree of latitude, is intensely cold. 
Wheat, peas, and barley are the chief objects of agricul¬ 
tural industry. Sheep and goats are nurneroas. The lat¬ 
ter are Celebrated for their fine hair, which is manufac¬ 
tured into shawls at Cashmere. 

In-'l’ibet exists the most extraordinary religion and gov¬ 
ernment in the world. Some healthy peasant is purchas¬ 
ed while vouiig, who is privately tutored for the purpose j 
he resides in a pagorla, upon the mrmntain Patali, where 
he sits in a cross-legged posture, without speaking or 
moving, i)lherw’ise than b^' lilting his hand in approbation 
of some tavourite worshipper ; and the neighbouring peo¬ 
ple Hock in numbers, with rich presents, to pay their ad- 
oraiions. He is called the Grand Lama, and they pre¬ 
tend he is always young and immortal. When he begins 
to grow old they privately despatch him, and set up 
another in his stead. Lassa is the capital. 

EiVtPIRE OP JAPAN. 

The isles of Japan in Asia, like those of Britain in Eu¬ 
rope, constitute a populous and mighty empire. 

Face of the Conntry, The face of the country, in gen¬ 
eral, is much diversified. The sea coasts are almost eve¬ 
ry where precipitous and rocky, and surrounded by a 
turbulent sea. In all the islands the land rises into 
mountains towards the interior. 

- Z 


278 


EMPIRE OF JAPAN". 


^Climate. In summer the heat is violent, and in winter 
the coUl is severe. The rainy season conniiences about 
Tnius'imifier. Thunder is not unfrecjuent; tempests, hurri¬ 
canes a*id earfhquakes are very common. 

Suit and Productium. The ^soiL Uiou^h naturally stony 
and barren, is rendered fertile by the industry ot the inhab¬ 
itants, and the fi equent rains that moisten its surface. In 
no country is agriculture practised with equal attention. 
I»Iot the least particle of udiat may serve for manure is 
suffered to be wasted. "Fhe land is every where tilled 
like a garden. Even the sides of hills are cultivated by 
means of stone walls, supporting level plats sown with 
rice or esculent roots. 'Fhousands of these beds adorn 
most of their mountains, and give them an appearance, 
which excites the greatest astonishment in the minds of 
spectators. 

Rice is the Vhief grain. The sweet potato is also abun¬ 
dant. Tea grows in every part of the country. Cotton, 
indigo, ginger, oranges, and the sugar-cane, are also suc¬ 
cessfully cultivated. A variety of valuable trees and 
shrubs grow wild in the mountainous parts, among which 
are the Indian laurel, the camphor tree, and tlie varnish 
tree, from the bark of which exudes a gum resin, suppo¬ 
sed to be the basis of the exquisitely beautiful and inimi¬ 
table black varnish, which Mistinguislies the Japanese 
cabinet ware. 

Neither sheep nor goats are seen in the whole empire ; 
horses are rare, and cattle still more so. The latter are 
only employed for labour. The Japanese use neither 
their flesh nor their milk. 

Gold is found in abundance ; likewise silver in consid¬ 
erable quantities ; copper is quite common | iron is 
scarcer than most other metals in this country. 

Manufactures. The Japanese are excellent workmen 
in iron and copper 5 their swords display incomparable 
skill. In manufactures of silk and cotton they yield to 
none of the eastern nations ; while in varnishing wood, it 
is well known they have no equals. Glass is common 5 
they also make telescopes. Their porcelain is deemed 
superior to that of China. Paper is prepared from the 
bark of a species of mulberry tree. 

Commerce. The ^foreign trade of Japan is with the 
Chinese and the Dutch, to the entire exclusion of all oth¬ 
er nations. The internal commerce, being free from 
imposts, is very considerable. The harbours are crowds 


EMPIRE OF JAPAN. 


279 


with large and small vessels, and the higli roads with 
passengers and goods. 'Fhe sliops are uell stocked, and 
larfre fairs are held in different places. 

Towns. Jeddo^ the’capital, in the island of Niphon, is 
a great commercial city. It is said to be 7 miles long, and 
20 in circumference, and to contain 1,000,000 inhabitants. 
The imperial palace occupies a vast extent, and is indeed 
a considerable town of itself. The houses never exceed 
two stories,' with numerous shops towards the street. No 
walls or fortifications enclose the Japanese cities. 

Meaco^ the spiritual capital, near the centre of the same 
island, is a large commercial city, and the seat of litera¬ 
ture and of numerous manufactures. Population 500,000 

Nangasaki is the ’port allotted for foreign commerce. 
Its harbour is the only one into which foreign ships are 
permitted to enter. Opposite to it is the small island 
Desima, on which the Dutch have their factory. 

Inhahitanis. The Japanese are of a middle size with 
yellow ish complexions. Ladies of distinction, who seldom 
expose themselves to the sun and air, are perfectly white. 
Like the Chinese, they are chiefiy distinguishable by 
their small, oblong, and deep sunken eyes. The men 
shave the head from the forehead to the nape,-but the 
hair on the sides being turned up and fastened at the 
crown forms an economical covering. Their food, con¬ 
sisting of fish, fowl, vegetables and fruits, is dressed in a 
variety of ways. Rice supplies the place of bread j and 
sacki, a kind of beer made of rice, is tlie common drink. 
AVine and spirituous liquors are unknown ; but the use 
of tea is universal, and that of tobacco very common. 
Their houses are of wood painted white in resemblance o 
stone. i'hey have neither tables, chairs or beds, but sit 
and lie on carpets or mats in the manner of the Turks. 

Jicligion, ^'C. The religion is Polytheism. Their Ian 
guage is so peculiar as to be understood by no other na¬ 
tion. The sciences are highly esteemed among them •, 
and they have several schools for rhetoric, arithmetic, 
j)oetry, history, and astronomy. Some of their schools 
at Meaco are said to contain 3 or 4,000 scholars. The 
government is.an absolute monarchy. 

Jesso. To the north of Niphon lies the large island 
called Jesso. It is inhabited by an uncivilized, harmless 
people, tributary to the Japanese, some of whom reside 
on the island. Although pleasant and fertile, it is little 
cultivated. Matsmai, the capital, contains 50,000 Inhab' 
itanta. 


ASIATIC ISLANDS. 


iliQ 


ASIATIC ISLANDS. 

Among the Asiatic islands, other than those already 
mentioned, are reckoned the Isles of Sunda, Borneo, the 
Manillas or Philippine islands ; the Celebes ; and the 
Moluccas, or Spice Islands. 

ISLES OF SUNDA. 

The Isles of Sunda, or the Sumatrian Chain, as they 
are sometimes called, ’comprise Sumatra, Java, Timor, 
and the several intermediate islands. 

Sumatra it 950 ’miles in length. A chain of mountains 
runs through the whole island. Mount Ophir, exactly 
under the equator, rises to the height of 13,84-2 feet 
above the level of the sea, being only 1,500 feet lower 
than Mount Blanc. The most ’valuable and abundant pro¬ 
duction is PEPPER. It grows on a climbing plant resem¬ 
bling a vine. Other ’articles are camphor, gum-benzoin, 
cassia, cotton, and coffee. ^IMie gold mines found here, 
being of an inferior quality, are much neglected but tin 
forms an abundant article of exportation. 

The inhabitants on the coasts are Malays ; in the inte¬ 
rior are different tribes of natives. The English have 
formed a settlement at Beiicoolen. Their’chief object is 
the pepper trade. Among the small islands that encom¬ 
pass Sumatra, that of Banca is ’famous for its tin : The 
Dutch have long exported vast quantities ; and the mines 
are thought to be inexhaustible. 

Jrtua derives its ’chief importance from its capital city, 
Batavia^ which is the principal settlement of the Dutch 
in the East Indies, and the centre of their commerce. 
The city is large and elegant, and the houses splendid 
and richly furnished ; but the ’situation is extremely un¬ 
healthy. Three-fourths of those who arrive here "from 
Europe, usually die within the first year. The streets 
are spacious, and most of them have canals of stagnant 
water pervading their whole length. Population, 47,000. 

The’products resemble those of Sumatra. This island 
was captured by the British, August, 1811, b^ut was re¬ 
stored in 1816. The English Baptists established a mis¬ 
sionary here in 1813. 

The other islands of the Sumatrian Chain are of but 
little importance, except Timor^ which is regarded by 
the Dutch as a kind of barrier to the Spice Islands. 


r — 


ASIATIC ISLANDS* 


28 i 


BORNEO. 

Borneo is the ’largest island in the world, except New- 
Holland. Of this great tract of land, however little is 
known beyond the sea-coasts. These, for the most part, 
-consist ol muddy flats, on which account the houses are 
commonly built on posts fixed in rafts which are moored 
to the shore, and rise and fall with the tide. Many of the 
villages are constructed in this manner, and ntove from 
place to place as it suits the conveniency of the inhabitants. 

The ’chief productions are pepper, camphor, the gum 
called dragon’s blood., and sandal wood. Edible birds’ 
nests are abutidant. Gold is found in the interior j also 
cliarnonils of an inferior quality. Tigers are numerous 
and destructive. The Europeans ^except the Dutch) 
have no settlement on this island. The chief trade is 
with the Chinese. 

THE MANILLAS, OR PHILIPPINE ISLANDS. 

Luzon is the most important of these islands, computed 
■at about 500 miles in length. It has a ’fertile soil, and Is 
rich in its pro<lucts. The finest cotton known in trade 
grow s here; rice, sugar-cane, and the cocoa tree, are al¬ 
so cultivated with success. Gold, copper, and iron are 
among the discovered minerals. The natives, ’called Ta- 
gals, seem to be of Malayan origin. They are a person¬ 
able race, of a mild disposition, dwelling in huts of bam¬ 
boo elevated upon poles. 

The Spaniards have established themselves in these 
islands. Their ’principal East Indian settlement is at 
Manilla^ a populous, well built, and strongly fortified 
city ; but, like other Spanish settlements, encumbf?red 
with a great number of religious houses. A commerce 
of great i'oportance has long been carried on across the 
Pacific ocean between Manilla and Acapulco in Mexico, 
by large ships called galleons. The Chinese were nu¬ 
merous here till the beginning of the 17th century, when 
the Spaniards committed a horrible massacre of that in- ' 
dustrious people. 

Mindanao is the ’next in size among the Philippine 
islands, on which the Spanish have but few settlements. 
The true cinnamon tree is said to grow here ,* gold is also 
among its products. Horses and buffaloes are aniazingly 
numerous. 

Z £ 


28S 


ASIATIC ISLAlir02^ 


Of the other Philippine islands, some are of considera¬ 
ble magnitude, and all afford a variety of useful vegeta¬ 
bles and wild animals. Many display volcanic appear¬ 
ances, abounding in lavas and vitrifications, sulphur, and 
hot springs. 

THE CELEBES. 

* 

The chief island of this group is Celebes, sometimes 
called Macassar, much ’celebrated for its sublime and 
beautiful scenery. It’produces rice, maize, sago, sugar¬ 
cane, and pepper, besides an abundance of poisonous 
plants. The natives are Malays. They are much ’ad¬ 
dicted to piracy, and often attack vessels with the most 
amazing and desperate resolution. 

Macassar, the principal city, is held by the Dutch, who 
have garrisons in several of the small circumjacentislands, 
and claim the sovereignty of the whole group. 

THE MOLUCCAS J OR, SPICE ISLANDS. 

Gilolo, the largest of these islands, ’produces sago and 
the bread fruit in great abundance. It is also plentifully 
furnished with wild and domestick animals. The natives 
are industrious, and are much employed in weaving cot¬ 
ton. Ossa is a convenient port town. 

Ceram is the next in size. It ’produces cloves and sago; 
the latter constitutes one of its’principal articles of export. 

Banda and Amboyna, now in possession of the Dutch, 
are the most ’distinguished of the Spice islands. 

Banda is the chief of a group, which comprises six or 
seven other islands. All these are very small, being’cel- 
ebrated solely for the production of the nutmeg. This 
tree, unknown in other parts of the globe, grows to the 
size of a pear tree, with leaves resembling laurel. Tiie 
nutmeg, w'hen ripe, is almost of the size and colour of an, 
apricot, and in shape nearly resembles a pear ; the mace 
is a rind which encloses the shell of the nutmeg. The 
Dutch are very jealous of its growth in any other islands, 
and have frequently caused its destruction when produced 
elsewhere by natuie. 

Amboyna is ’celebrated for the production of cloves. 
Its situation is north trom the Banda isles, neai Ceram. 
The clove tree grows to the height of forty or fifty feet, 
with spreading branches and long pointed leaves. Some 
®f the trees produce an annual crop of thirty pounds 


AVSTRALASIA. 


28Sf 

Weight. The town of Amboyna, situated near the south¬ 
western extremity of the island, is the second in rank of 
the Dutch East-lndia settlements. It is neatly built,, 
and contains a considerable population. 

AUSTRALASIA. 

Australasia ’comprehends the extensive central island, 

' Kew-Holland, with all the islands within 20 degrees to 
the west, and within 25 or 30 degrees to the east of it. 

New-Holland is 2,730 miles in length from east to 
west, and about 1,960 miles in breadtii. This immense 
region is but little known to Europeans. Capt. Cook vis¬ 
ited and explored the eastern coast in 1770, and took pos¬ 
session of it in the name of the kiii^ of Great Britain, and 
gave it the name of New South Tlales. An English set¬ 
tlement has since been formed at Port Jackson, for the 
tran>portation of convicts from England. 

The native inhabitants are said to approach more near¬ 
ly to the brutal state than any other savage race yet dis¬ 
covered. 'I'hey are partly black, partly of a copper hue, 
with long hair, thick eyebrows and lips, flat noses, sunken 
eves, and very wide mouths ; of low stature and ill made, 
with remarkably sleiuler limbs. Their arts are extreme¬ 
ly rude 5 their manners barbarous and filthy ; their nat¬ 
ural aftections cold. They practice no culture of the 
land, but feed on fish and such animals as fail in their way. 

Papua or New Guinea, is as little known as New- 
Ilolland. The coasts in general are lofty ; and its moun¬ 
tains, rising above mountains, richly clothed with woods, 
present a magnificent scenery, which has impressed ev¬ 
ery navigator with delight. No European settlement has 
ever yet been formetl on this island. 

The iidiabitants are black, with the woolly hair of the 
negroes. 'I'hey are cruel savages, of good stature and 
strong shape •, but their large eyes, flat noses, extremely 
wide mouths, and amazingly thick lips, give them a hide¬ 
ous aspect. 'I'he Chinese carry on a trade with the Pa¬ 
puans, w hom they furnish with various instruments and 
utensils, and carry back ambergris, torto se shells, birds 
of paradise, lories, ami various other birds, which the na¬ 
tives dry with great skill. 

New Ihitain^ New Ireland, and the Solomon Isles, situ¬ 
ated rather to the eastward of Papau, have been Ijttle ex¬ 
plored. In New Britain the nutmeg is said to be found 


9S4 


POLYNESIA. 


in abundance, and the country is supposed to be popu¬ 
lous. New Ireland ’produces the bread fruit and cocoa 
tree. The inhabitants are muscular and strong, and of a 
dark brown complexion. Their houses are neatly built 
in the form of a bee-hive, but have no outlet for the 
smoke. Their food consists chiefly of fruit. 

New Caledonia and the New Hebrides were discovered 
by Capt. Cook in l/fd. The former is represented as 
rocky and barren ; in the latter are found plantains, 
sugar-canes, yams and several kinds of fruit trees. The 
natives resemble those of New Holland, and are dexter¬ 
ous in the use of the spear. 

New Zealand first visited by Tasman, a Dutch navi¬ 
gator, in 1642, when seven of his men going ashore un¬ 
armed, were cruelly slaughtered by the natives. The 
highest mountain hitherto observed, is that of Egmont, 
supposed to be 14,000 feet in height, the top of which is 
covered with perpetual snow. Among the few produc¬ 
tions which have been examined, that of a particular spe¬ 
cies of flax has ’excited the greatest attention, being of a 
beautiful silky appearance, and the plant remarkalily tall. 
Its culture has been attempted both in England and 
France but without success. Hats and dogs are the only 
quadrupeds which have yet been discovered. 

The natives are among the most ferocious of the human 
race. They equal the tallest Europeans in stature. 4’heir 
complexion is a dark brown. In combat they distort their 
features like daemons. 'Fhe captives taken in war are 
always eaten by the victors ; and the bodies of the slain 
are immediately cut in pieces, broiled and devoured with 
the greatest satisfaction. 

Fan Dieman^s Land is the last great division yet discov¬ 
ered of the wide expanse of Australasia. Tiie productions 
ami the inhabitants seem to resemble those of New Hol¬ 
land, from vvhence it is separated b) a strait, about nine* 
ty adles wide, interspersed with small islands. 

POLYNESIA. 

The Pelew islands’produce ebony, cocoa, the .bread¬ 
fruit, sugar-cane and bamboo. The ’natives are a gentle 
and amiable people, stout and well made. The men go 
entirely naked, vvliile the women only wear two little 
aprons, or rather fringes, made of the husks of the cocoa- 
nut. LKith sexes are tattowed, and the teeth are dyed 
black. 


POLYNESIA. 


285 


The Ladrones are twelve or fourteen in number, but 
not above three or four of them are inhabited. fhey 
^produce oranges, limes, cocoa-nuts, and that celebrated 
and remarkable tree which bears the bread fruit. 

I'he Carolines are about thirty in number, and very • 
populous, except three, which are unitdiabited. 'Fiie 
natives resemble those of the Philippines, and chiefly live 
upon fish and cocoa nuts. 

The Sandwich Islands were discovered by Captain 
Cook ; and the island Owliyhee^ the largest in the group, 
is unfortunately ’distinguished as the place where this 
illustrious navigator lost his life, being killed by the na¬ 
tives in an affray, which originated rather in a sort of 
misunderstanding, than in ferocity of disposition, or pre¬ 
meditated design. 

The ’inhabitants are a mild and aff ctionate people, 
extremely ingenious, and are said to have maile some 
progress in agriculture and manufactures. The principal 
article furnished for commerce is sandal wood. These 
people have lately renounced idolatry, and missionaries 
from the United tStates have been very affectionately 
received. 

Marquesas Islands. The ’natives of these islands are 
said to surpass all other nations in symmetry of shape 
and regularity of features ; and were it not for tattowing, 
which blackens the body by numerous punctures, the 
complexion would be only tawny, while the hair is of 
many colours, but none red. Some of the women are 
nearly as fair as Europeans ; among them tallowing is 
not so universal. 

No quadrupeds have been observed here except hogs. 
Tame poultry is common, and the woods are filled with 
many beautilul birds. 

The Society Islands have attracted more attention than 
any other in Polynesia. By far the most ’considerable of 
them is Otaheife. on which more has been written than 
on several kingdoms in Europe. Tlie ’soil is fertile, and 
’produces in plenty the bread fruit, the plantain, the cocoa, 
yams, and other esculent roots. The people of Otaheite 
are a remarkably mild and gentle race, kind and soci¬ 
able, easily moved, and quickly passing from one emo¬ 
tion to another. fliey are cleanly in their persons, and 
polished in their habits of life. Their rude manufactures 
are truly wonderful, and evince the greatest ingenuity. 
Both sexes wear garlands ol flowers and feathers, and the 
women use a kind of bonnet made of cocoa leaves, idol 


S86 


AFRICA. 


■worsMp has been abolished on several of these islands, 
and the inhabitants isave einbrac<‘d the Cljristian faith. 

Friendly and Navigator^s Islands. The Fi iend 1 j islands, 
inclndipo; the Isles of the Navigators, are Represented as 
well cuirivated. and aboundingm provisions. 7"ongafaboo, 
particularly, is descri!>ed as one of the best cultivated spots 
on the globe. 'I'he inhabitants of tl)e Navigator’s Isles 
are verr numerous, of j:;reai strength and stature, fero¬ 
cious, and treacherous to strangers. Their language 
partakes of the dialect of tlie Malays, from whom they 
seem also to liave derived tlieir dispositions. 



Our knowledge of Africa is alntost wholly confined to 
its coasts ; its geography is, therefore, very incomplete. 

The ^rnodeof travelling atid carrying on trade over the 
immense deserts in the inteiior, is by caravans, or troops 
of merchants and traders on camels. The number is 
various, from 2,00 to 2.000. Each caravan has a guard 
of janizaries or other forces, for its defence against the 
roving Arabs of the desert, who make robbery a profes¬ 
sion. Their ^coursein the night is directed by the stars. 

Tlie climate of Africa has at all times been ^noted for 
excess of heat, to which quality all its productions, animal 
and vegetable, bear testimony. The dark hue and savage 
disposition of the inhabitants, and the peculiar ferocity of 
its numerous beasts of prey, seem in unison with the in¬ 
tense heat of the sun, and the wild horror of the deserts. 

BAHBAHY STATES. 

The ^Barbary States are Morocco, Algiers, Tunis, and 
Tripoli, Morocco nearly corresponds to the ancient 
Mauritania, and Algiers to Numidia. 

Barca, or, as it is called by the Arabs, the land of whirl¬ 
winds, is an extensive desert country, dependent on Trip¬ 
oli, situated between Tripoli and Egypt. Here once 
stood the renewed temple of Jupiter Ammon. 

'J’hese States are ^noted for their hostility to the Chris¬ 
tian name, and for their piracies exercised chiefly in the 
Mediterranean sea, against all those Christian powers 


BARBART STATES. 


£8r 

which tlo not purchase, llieir for!)earance by a <lisgraceful 
tribute. Several nations, however, now refuse to pur¬ 
chase this forbearance, and have successful!)' defended 
their commerce. 

The circumstances of these States are so nearly similar, 
that a general description is all that will here be nec essary. 

J^ace of the Country, The country, as far as it is known, 
is a diversified campaign. I'he Atlas mountains, fabled 
by the ancients as supporting the heavens, appear to be 
a chain of no remarkable elevation, although some of 
their tops are said to be capped with perpetual snow. 

Climate,, Soil,, and Productions. The ^climate in winter 
is temperate, but in summer the licat is excessive. The 
^soil partakes of the iteneral character of Africa, being 
light and sandy, except the vallies of Mount Atlas, and 
the lands bordering on the rivulets, whicli present in 
many places a deep, rich soil. 

Grain ot all kinds is plentiful, and the wheat is of an ex¬ 
cellent quality. Oil, wine, excellent fruits, sugar, cotton, 
silk, indigo, and drugs, are’proiluced in the difierent soils 
and situations. But with more industry, and better agri¬ 
culture, the country would be far'more productive. 

The ^domestic animals are the same as those of Europe, 
with the addition of the camel. The breed of horses 
is small, but elegant and swift- Game is plentiful, and 
beasts of prey are common among the recesses of the 
mountains. Minerals abound in the hilly regions, and 
some mines are wrought, particularly of copper. 

Commerce, The chief commerce of these States is 
in the hands of the French. That of Tunis is very con¬ 
siderable. The ’exports are wool in large quantities, 
grain, olive oil, cattle, hides ; also ivory and gold dust, 
which are obtained from Tombuctoo^ a large commercial 
city in the central part of Africa. The trade between 
this city and Tunis is carried on by caravans, across the 
deserts. I'hese caravans set out fur Tombuctoo in Octo¬ 
ber, and in June arrive again at Tunis. They carry out 
coarse woollen cloths, fire-arms, gun-powder, watches, 
and hard-ware. In return, they bring back slaves, ivory, 
and gold dust. 

Chief Cities. Morocco, containing about 40,000 in¬ 
habitants, the capital of the kingdom of the same name, 
is an extensive city, surrounded by a strong wall, ce- 
mentecl with a hard and durable kind of mortar. The 
principal edifices are the royal palace, and the mosques. 


S88 


baubary states. 


Fez is a large city, and the capital of a kingdom of the 
same name, now incorporated with M<»rocco. The houses 
are lofty and spacious ; it contains 700 mosques, 50 of 
which are highlj ornamented. The population has been 
estimated at 380,000; but is^ supposed now to be 100,000. 

Jllgiers is reckoned the ^chief of the piratical states. 
The city Algiers is situated on the sea-coast, gradually 
rising from the shore, so as to afford a fine prospect of all 
its buildings. It is of no great compass, and meanly for¬ 
tified on the land side ; but its harbour is secured by a 
mole and other works of considerable strength. The city 
is reckoned to contain about 150,000 inhabitants, who are 
a mixture of various nations and religions. Tlie Dey s 
palace, the mosques, barracks, and publick baths, aie the 
most conspicuous buildings. The surrounding territory 
is very fertile, and ornamented with gardens, groves, and 
country seats : nor is any thing wanting, but a better peo¬ 
ple and governmeni, to render Algiers a delightful abode. 
This place, in 1816, was attacked by the English and 
L'utch fitcts, under Lord Exmouth, with such success, 
that the Ley was compelled to sign a treaty, by which he 
5 i<»'rees fifiever to abolish Oh.'istian slavery. 

^Oran is a well fortified town, and contains about 15,000 
inhabitants. 

Tunis^ the capital of a kingdom of the same name, 
and residence ot the Dey, is the most ^commercial city on 
the African coast. The inhabitants are reckoned at 
about 120,000. many of whom are employed in linen and 
WO' lien manufactures. The ruins of ancient Carthage 
aie at a small distance from this city. 

Tripoli IS a large town, though much declined from its 
former opulence and splendour. It is meanly built, and 
labours under the Misadvauiages of want of water, and a 
barren circumjacent district. It has a considerable linen 
manufacture, "and an excellent harbour, wliich is much 
visited by corsairs. Population about 15,000. 

Derne is the chief town oi Barca. "I’liis is the ^place 
where our late gallant countryman, General Eaton, so 
much distinguished himself, in 1805. At the head of a 
small but intrepid band of troops, he crossed the desert 
from Egypt: and after encountering excessive hardship 
and fatigue, arrived before Derne, wliich lie took by 
storm, and put to flight the army of Tripoli. 

Inhabitants. Barbary is cinefiy inhabited by three 
^sorts of people, the Moors, who are the aborigines of 


EOrPT. 


28§ 


the country, the Arabs, and the Turks. The Moors are 
ignorant, superstitious, revengeful and malicious. Their 
condition is abject and miserable in the extreme, being 
crushed with a heavy load of taxes, and treated with the 
utmost cruelty by their insulting masters. 

The Arabs are a wandering race, who roam from place 
to place with their flocks and herds, and raise grain on 
the most fruitful spots ; some of them, however, are 
more addicted to plunder than to the exertions of indus¬ 
try. They pay a tribute to the emperor, but are govern- 
edl by their own elective sheiks. 

The Turks ’forms the highest rank in the country, and 
possess all the chief offices of State. They are proud, 
indolent, voluj)tuous and revengeful; but at the same 
time, faithful, courageous, and tolerant. 

There are some Jews in this country, but they are de¬ 
spised and oppressed. The number of Christian and ne¬ 
gro slaves is also considerable. Slaves of any colour, 
who lurn Mahometans, gain their freedom. The Jews 
and Christians who do this are called KifiNKGADOES,and may 
be advanced to honouraole and lucrative employments. 

Jieligion. The religion is Mahometan,and the aversion 
against Christians is carried to a greater height in these* 
thin in any other of the Mahometan States. 

LUeraiure. Except at the city of Tunis, scarcely so 
much as tiie shadow of literature, or the arts, can be said 
to exist in any of the States of liarbary. 

Governiaent, In all these States the governsnent is 
despotic. The sovereign of Algiers is’stv led the Dey. 
Jle is elected from the army. Every bidd and aspiring 
solnier however, obscure his origin, may be considered as 
heir apparent to the throne. 

EGYPT. 

The early culture and population of Egypt are attested 
by the most ancient records of the human race. But like 
most otiicr seats of early renown, Egypt has lost much of 
its rehnive importance; many of its former cities, over¬ 
whelmed by de potism and ignorance, are laid level with 
the dust, and their former celebrity is now chiefly known 
by their mairnificent ruins. 

Face of the Country. Upper Egypt, commencing at 
Ai/ene and terminating at Cairo, is a narrow vale, from 
nine to twenty-five miles wide, bounded on each side by 

A A 


S90 


EGYPT. 


precipitous rocks or santlv mountains. Lower Egypt, 
■which comprehends tiie whoi»' country between Caii-oand 
tile Medirerraneuii, is a vast |dam. with the Delt ?, the 
in<>st lerule aim important portion ol Egypt, neady lU its 
ceotrq. 

Nile. The Nile^ the sole river of Egypt, and its ^char- 
acterisnek feature, ilows for toe ino^t patt in a straight 
course nearly due north Its greatest b.eadtlr is auout 
one third oi a mile, and-its depth, vvlien free troin inun¬ 
dation, not more ilian Uvei\e feet Of the moutlis ot the 
Tsile mentioned by ancient writers, several are choked 
up, and ilmse ot iloselt.i and Marietta alone remain ^con- 
siderabie. T'le whole Del a is cut by communicating 
channels, pailly natural and partly artiticial, many ot 
whicn are dry at low water- Tlie annual inundation of 
the jSile, the great vivifying piinciple of Egypt, is the 
consequence of die periodical rains in the Anyssinian 
mountains, it ^begins about the l9th of June,aiid ditluses 
a.muddy fleluge over the land as far as its inliuence ex¬ 
tends ; but it is an error to suppose that the whole of 
Egypt is converted into a sea, with villages and trees 
emerging from the waves, according to some poetical 
descriptions. This fs indeed true of the parts of the Delta 
nearest to the sea •, but t») other districts the water is led 
by canals, trom which it is raised by machines to fertilize 
the fields. The river subsides to its natural level in Octo¬ 
ber,! aving Itlt a l ie h maniu e on the surface of the ground. 

Climate. To us it st ems astonishing that a country 
should subsist at all witliouj^rain 5 yet such is the case 
with most parts of Egypt. i:The whole \juantity of rain 
that falls in a yeai at Cairo could not be reckoned equiv¬ 
alent to a shower of an hour’s duration^ in other parts it 
is still less, or rarely'^ known at all, so that the whole de¬ 
pendence for the element so necessary to the purposes of 
life, is upon the river. 

' The ^climate from March to November is excessively 
hot, and the winds from the surrounding desert, loaded 
with particles of fine dust and saline exhalations, are very 
troublesome, and particularly noxious to the eyes. 

Soil. The ^soil in general is a pure black mould of a 
tenacious and unctuous nature, tree from stones, and, 
when sufficiently moistened, astonishingly fertile. 

Productions. The ’productions are rice, chiefly culti¬ 
vated on the Delta, wheat, barley, maize, millet, llax, 
^emp, sugar-cane, olives, figs, dates, oranges, onions, 


EGYPT. 


291 


leeks, senna, and several otl'er medicinal plants. Wheat 
and barley, soun in October and IVnveuiber, ripen in 
February and Marci), and are immediately succeeded by 
garden herbs, and these by cucumbers, &c. for where the 
waters of the river can be procured, the ground, which is 
never suft'ered to be idle, furnishes three cro,’S in a year. 

'I'he domestic animals are the same as those of Kurope, 
with the addition of the camel. Chickens are hatched in 
ovens in irreat numbers, by means of artificial heat, so 
that poultry is very plenty. 

Crocodiles are numerous on the banks of tlie Nile in 
Upper Egypt. 'Idie ichneumon destroys their eggs. 
Chamelions are frequent in the neighbourhood of Cairo, 
and lizards and vipers of various sorts abound in difterent 
parts of the country. 

Commerce. Egypt is well situated for commerce. 
The chief ’exports are rice, wheat, flax, sugar, sal-am¬ 
moniac, salt-petre, dressed leather, and linen. 

Towns. The ’principal city of Egypt is Cairo, ’situated 
on the Nile, just above its division into the branches 
which form the Delta. Cairo had once an extensive 
commerce, and even now it is considered as the ’chief 
mart of Fiastern Africa. Caravans visit it from the coun¬ 
tries lying south and west, which bring slaves, gold dust, 
ivory, gums, and drugs. Yemen sends it cottee and frank¬ 
incense. It has communications with Tunis and 'I’ripoli, 
with Syria, and Constantinople, and with the diflerent 
trading countries of Europe. Various manufactures are 
also carried on within its walls. Its population has been 
estimated at 300,000 j but visitations of the plague fre- 
fjuently thin its numbers. JosepJi^s JFell is a great curiosi¬ 
ty. It is 270 feet deep, through a solid rock, with cir¬ 
cular steps to the bottom. 

,^lexan(lria, once the seat of learning, and of royal mag¬ 
nificence, is’nextto Cairo in modern importance, although 
it exhibits few marks of its ancient gramleur, except such 
as are seen in its extensive ruins. One of Cleopatra’s 
needles is still standing, and two obelisks, each a single 
cone, GO feet high, and 7 feet square at the base. Pom- 
pey’s pillar and the catacombs are half a league without 
the walls. Population less than 20,000. 

Dumietta, near the site of the ancient Pelusium, and 
Rosetta iWQ large commercial towns. 

lahabitanls. 'I'lie ’inhabitants are Copts, Arabs, Turks, 
.Mamelukes, and some Jews. The Copts are the descend- 


292 


EAST AFRICA....NUBIA. 


ants of the ancient Egyptians, of a very swarthy cona^ 
plexion, but ingenious, and well fitted for business. The 
Arabs are of two classes, those settled in towns and villa¬ 
ges, and the rambling Bedouins, who have no home but 
the deserts 5 no possessions but their flocks and herds ; 
and who are robbers by profession. The Turks are set¬ 
tled chiefly about Cairo. They claim to be the ^dominant 
nation, but have no influence. The ’Mamelukes are mil¬ 
itary slaves, children of Christian parents, and, for the 
most part, natives of Georgia, Circassia, and Mingrelia, 
countries situated at the foot of Mount Caucasus. They 
are brought up to the use of arms, and possess the sole 
publick force. The ^Jew's devote themselves to com¬ 
merce and manufactures. 

Religion. The Copts profess themselves to be Chris¬ 
tians of the Greek church ; but Mahometanism is the 
prevailing religion among the natives. 

Language. The ’general language of Egypt is the 
Arabic 5 the Coptic no longer existing but in manuscripts. 

Education. The education ofyoutn extends no further 
than the Arabic language, writing and accounts ; at which 
some of them, especially the Copts, are tolerably expert. 

Government. Egypt is nominally subject to the Grand 
Seignior, who sends a bashaw to collect the tribute but 
he has no influence, and the whole government is vested 
in the hands of the Beys, who are twenty-four in num¬ 
ber, and are elected from the Mamelukes. 

Antiquities. Egypt every where abounds with the 
most stupendous monuments of antiquity. Of these, the 
most ’noted are the pyramids, the largest of which is 500 
feet in perpendicular height, and covers ten acres of ground. * 

XTAST AFXIXCA. 

East Africa ’includes all the countries on the eastern 
coast, between tlie tropics, comprehending Nubia, Abys¬ 
sinia, and the countries south of Abyssinia. 

NUBIA. 

To the south of Egypt is on extensive tract in which 
the ancients chiefly placed their Ethiopia, while the 
Arabian geographers have termed it Nubia. The north' 


•ABfVffSINIA. 


2153 


€rn part of this country is' an immense desert of sand. 
;Mr. Bruce crossed it from Goos to Syene. The only in¬ 
teresting objects he remarked were the moving pillars of 
rand, and the Simoora. The pillows of sand follow the 
course of the wind, and often with such rapidity, that the 
swiftest horse would in vain attempt to escape them. 
The Simoora, or poisonous blast from the desert, has the 
appearance of a haze at a distance, in colour like the 
purple part of the rainbow. The only ’recourse for the 
traveller, is to fall flat upon the ground with his face to 
the earth, as an inhalation of the fatal atmosphere it 
brings, is soon succeeded by death. 

On the borders of the Nile are some fertile and popu¬ 
lous districts, which compose the two kingdoms of Don- 
gola and Sennaar, the capitals of which are of the same 
name. Sennaar, the most distinguished of the two, is an 
empire of negroes, who invaded the country in 1504, and 
founded the town of Sennaar, for their capital. The 
houses are of but one story, and all built of clay. The 
king is styled the Mek of Sennaar. The troops fight na¬ 
ked, except the cavaliy, who are armed with coats of 
mail, and mounted on black horses. The ’chief food of 
tiie inhabitafits is millet. The climate is neither pleasant 
nor healthy. The mercury often rises to 120 degrees. 
Nei'her sheep, cattle, poultry, dog or cat, will live at 
Sennaar, or many miles around it. No tree but the lem¬ 
on flowers near the city. 

ABYSSINIA. 

On the south of Sennaar commences the territories of 
Abyssinia, a kingdom of ancient fame. The heat of this 
tropical region is tempered by the mountains with which 
it is overspread, and by the heavy rains w hich fall during 
the months from April to November. 

'fhe ’vegetable productions are numerous, among 
which are various kinds of grain, particularly wheat, 
which is excellent. Among the native trees and shrubs 
may be enumerated the tamarind, sveamore, fig, and the 
tre^^s that yield myrrh and balsam of Mecca. fhe coffee 
shrub and date palm are also cultivated. 

'fhe ’wild animals are the elephant, rhinoceros, lion, 
and panther. The hyena is very common, and so auda* 

A A 2 


S94 


COUNTRIES SOUTH OF ABYSSINIA. 


cious to haunt the streets by night. Wild boars, ante¬ 
lopes, and monkies, enliven the woods, and the hippopota¬ 
mus, and crocodile abound in the rivers. Of domestick 
animals, horned cattle are numerous. The horses are of 
a small breed, but full of spirit. 

The people of Abyssinia are supposed anciently to have 
been a colony from the opposite coast of Arabia, their 
features being of the same cast, but their complexions 
darker. Although they have long lived under a certain 
degree of civilization, their manners are rude, and their 
dispositions ferocious; nor has the Christian religion, 
which they adopted in the 4th century from the Greek 
church, much contributed to the improvement of their 
morals. They retain in conjunction with it,-the rite of 
circumcision, and practise polygamy, or at least a free 
and open concubinage. Great licentiousness prevails in 
the intercourse between the sexes, which is particularly 
displayed at their banquets, the orgies of which are dis- 
gusiingly brutal. Among other savage customs, that of 
cutting slices of flesh from living oxen for their ravenous 
repast, is attested by Mr. Bruce, an eye witness, and 
confirmed by Mr- Salt. 

The government is an absolute monarchy, under the 
neguz or king, who is considered as the sole proprietor 
of the land. Insurrections are frequent, and petty wars 
are continually carrying on with the neighbouring States, 
especially with the Gal las, a numerous and savage tribe 
at the south of Abyssinia. 

Conclar is ^the capital, and is said to contain 50,000 in¬ 
habitants. Axum, the former capital, is distinguished by 
extensive ruins,among which are many obelisks of granite. 

COUNTRIES SOUTH OF ABYSSINIA. 

The long range of sea-coast from Cape Guardafui, at 
the entranc e of the Red Sea, to the Cape of Good Hope, 
is possessed by a number of separate states or tribes, of 
which we have very little knowledge. The ’first Euro¬ 
peans who visited these parts were the Portuguese, near 
the close of the 15th century. At that time there were 
many flourishingand well built towns along the coast, which 
had been originally settled by the Moors or Mahometans 
from the shores of Arabia. Some of these were great marts 


90UNTRIE8 SOUTH OF ABYSSINIA. 


295 


of commerce, and held a correspondence with other set¬ 
tlements made by the same people on the western coast 
of Hindostan. The inland country was inhabited by the 
aboriginal natives, who were nearly in a savage state. 
The Portuguese by their superior skill and valour expel¬ 
led the Moors from many of these towns, and took pos¬ 
session of such as they did not entirely destroy. These, 
however, they have been compelled to relinquish, except 
several small settlements and forts on the toasts of Mo¬ 
zambique ixiwl So/ala. A brief sketch is all that the 
scanty materials ot our knowledge will admit. 

Adel is ’situated on the coast to the south-east of Abys¬ 
sinia. Zeila is the ’principal sea-port. The country 
’yields abundance of wheat, barley, and millet. The 
’chief exports are gold dust, frankincense, ivory and slaves. 

Berbera extends from Adel to Cape Guardafui. Its 
’productions are gums, myrrh and frankincense, in* which 
it excels all other countries. 

The coast of Ajan presents an extensive tract of sandy 
deserts, thinly inhabited by a few scattered Arabian 
tribes. Magudoxa^ the’capital of a kingdom of the same 
name, is a place of c(»nsiderable commerce with the 
Arabs, and the people of Aden. 

The coast of Zanguebar is ’represented in general as 
marshy and unhealthful. Melinda^ the capital of a king¬ 
dom of the same name, is a place of considerable trade. 
Its ’exports are gold, ivory, wax and drugs. Quiloa is 
also the capital of a kingdom. The houses are of stone, 
several stories high, and have large gardens behind them. 

The coast of Mozambique succeeds, regarded as sub¬ 
ject to the Portuguese. The inhabitants are black, but 
speak the Arabic language. The Portuguese city of 
Mozambique^ situated on an island, about two miles from 
the continent, is large and populous, containing many 
churches and monasteries. 

In the interior, back of the coast of Mozambique, is 
Mocakanga, a powerful and extensive kingdom. The 
inhabitants here are also blacks. Some of the mountain¬ 
ous parts abound in gold. The Portuguese have a station 
near the mountains of Fiira, about 600 miles within land, 
where the lajgest quantities of that metal are found. 

At SoFALA the Portuguese have a settlement and a fort. 
The country is said to be fertile, and to contain mines of 
gold of considerable value. The original natives are 


^g96 


SOUTH AFRICA....CAPE OF'GOOD HOPE. 


black 5 but a colony of Arabs has been settled on the 
coast, and their descendants retain the Arabian complex¬ 
ion with a dialect of the language. 

SOUTH AFRICA. 


^South Africa includes Caffraria and the Colony of 
Cape of Good Hope. 

Caffraria is sometimes applied to all that part of South 
Africa which is not included in the Cape Colony, embra¬ 
cing many natives tribes. Our chief acquaintance is with 
the Callers, w'ho are a people of a shining black colour, 
tall, well made, peaceable, brave, not unacquainted with 
the arts of life, and much inferior in appearance to the 
Tieiiihbouring African tribes. 

COLONY OF THE CAPE of GOOD HOPE. 

% 

Tlie Cape of Good Hope was ^first discovered by the 
Portuguese in the year 1487. It was afterwards coloniz¬ 
ed by the Dutch, and by them delivered up to the British 
in 1806, in whose possession it still remains. It is con- 
sidei ed to be the most important possession of the En¬ 
glish in Af> ica, containing a population of about 62,000 
inhabitants. 

Th is celebrated colony, which occupies the whole of 
the southern extremity of Africa, is almost 550 miles in 
length, from east to west and 233 in breadth. It is over¬ 
spread in many parts by ridges of mountains. One of the 
most ^noted is Table Mountain. Large tracts are unfit 
foi- cultivation. Tlie ^staples of the colony are wine and 
brandy. Twelve sorts of wine are made here ; that call- 

V _ ' 

ed CONS I’ANTiA is particularly celebrated. Ttte ^natives of 
this part of Africa are principally comprehended under 
the name of Hottentots, among whom are many Christian 
missionaries labouring with much success. The colony 
-derives its ’chief importance from the ciicnmstance of its 
being a pi.ice of refresliment to the East India fleets. 

Cape Toum^ ’the capital, is regular and handsome, the 
streets being broad, and intersecting each other at right 
nngles It contains about 6,000 whites and coloured 
people, and 10,000 blacks. 


WEST ArniCA..., COAST OF GUINEA. 


S97 


WEST AFRICA. 

From the Cape Colony, to Cape Negro, the coast is very 
little known to Europeans ; and it is not till about the 13tK 
degree ol south latitude,that a country commences, which 
from its population and fertility, has obtained distinction 
in the history of West Africa. It is called the Coast of 
Congo, and ’contains the kingdoms Benguela, Angola, 
Congo and Loango. 

The’general face of the country near the sea is low 
and flat, with a clayey or marshy soil, void ot stone. 
Zaire is the most ’considerable river. Fhe, ’productions 
are those usual within the tropics ; millet, maize, cassava, 
yams and potatoes. The sujoar cane is also cultivated, 
with cotton, indigo, varieties of the palm, and fine fruits 
of various kinds. Mines of lead and copper are worked 
in the upper country. The, ’climate is excessively hot, 
and in many parts extremely unhealthy to foreigners, 
particularly in Benguela, where even the provisions are 
thought unwholesome to Europeans. 

t‘f these countries Congo the ’principal for extent 
and population, and has at times exercised a kind of do¬ 
minion over the rest but at the expense of frequent and 
bloody wars. The people are reputed as having little 
of the negro feature, though perfectly black with woolly 
hair. The Portuguese have a settlement at St. Salvador, 
the ’capital city not far from the great river Zaire. The 
king, whom they have converted to their religion, ap¬ 
pears to be entirely under their influence, and the whole 
country virtually under their dominion. 

Loango is inhabited by a people, who are industrious, 
and possess several of the useful arts. Loango, the cap¬ 
ital, contains about 15,000 inhabitants. The Portuguese 
are said to have been entirely expelled from this country. 

COAST OF GUINEA. 

A few degrees to the north of the equator, the African 
coast makes a great turn to the west, forming an extent- 
si ve region, well known by the name of Guinea. This 
tract has by European traders been divided into several 
distitict coasts, each named after its principal commercial 
product. 


298 . 


COAST OF GUINEA. 


That which first occurs on turning westward, is de¬ 
nominated the Slave Coast, being resorted to for little 
other merchaiuiise than that of human beings ; although 
this iniquitous traffic is bv no means peculiar to this part 
of Guinea, but has been carried on along the whole coast 
ftom Cape Negro to the river Senegal. It is, however, 
pleasant to remark, that the slave tuade, having been 
lately abolished in the flominions of England, France, 
Denmark, and the United States, is now nearly restricted 
to the Spanish, Portuguese, and Dutcli; colonie*—if not 
whollv extirpated, it is exceedingly curtailed ; and no 
doubt can be entertained that its final extinction among 
all tlie nations of Europe, is no distant event. 

Benin and Dahomey are two powerful kingdoms on this 
coast. T'he ’face of the country is level, the ’soil fertile, 
and entirely free from stones. The ’climate is hot, and 
extremely urdiealthy. Maize, millet, yams, potatoes, 
oranges, melons, pine-apples, plantains, bananas, the su¬ 
gar-cane, indigo, cotton and tobacco, are all successfully 
cultivated. 

Benin has been one of the principal marts for slaves. 
They are called in the West Indies, Eboes. The people 
of this country are gentle in tlu'ir dispositions, good tem- 
perech and considerably civilized in their manners. The 
capital city, called also Benin^ is spacious and well peo¬ 
pled, and contains thirty-streets ; but the houses are only 
low hovels built of clay. 

Dahomey is an inland kingdom. Its capital town is 
Momey^ containing 24,000 inhabitants. The government 
is one of the most depotic on the face of the globe. The 
Dahomians have several useful arts and manufactures, 
and appear to be in a higher state of civilization than 
any of the other negro nations with which the Europeans 
are acquainted. 

The Gold Const succeeds, ’so named from the quantity 
of that metal brought down from the interior country, 
and employed as a medium of commerce. The English 
have a number of forts and factories here. 

The Ivory Coast is less known than the former. It ’^de- 
' rives its name from the great quantity of elephants’ teeth 
brought down as an article of traffic. The slaves from 
this, and the Gold Coasts, are, in the West Indies, called 
CoROMANTYNs. They are distinguished from all the other 
negroes by firmness, both of body and mind j by activity, 


INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 


299 


. courage, and elevation of soul which prompts them to en¬ 
terprises of difiiculty and danger, and enables ihein to 
meet tortures and death with fortitude and indifference. 

The Grain or Pepper coast ^derives its name from a 
species of pe[>per, named Malaguetta, w'hich used to be 
its principal commercial product. The importation of 
the East Indian spices has, however, diminished the con¬ 
sumption of this aromatic, so that the coast is now 
chiefly fiequented for its trade in ivory and slaves. 

'I’he coast which next succeeds has been called the 
country of Sierra Leone, a name given by the Portuguese 
to a chain of mountains much infested, it is said, w ith lions. 
This coast is ’distinguished principally for an English set¬ 
tlement which has been formed in the bay of Sierra Leone, 
with the benevolent intention of civilizing* the natives, 
and for the purpose of cultivating West India and other 
tropical productions on the banks of the rivei- Sierra Le¬ 
one, fi om the mouth of which, at the distance of six miles, 
stands Freetown, the capital of the colony. 

I The American Colonization Society have lately formed 
i a settlement a little to the south of Sierra Leone, consist¬ 
ing of free Blacks. 

Northward stretches the populous tract washed by the 
ri\ers GV/m6i«and Senegal, ’called by modern geographers 
Senegamuia. St. Louis anil Gallam are ’French settle¬ 
ment on the river Senegal. Bathurst is an ’English set¬ 
tlement at tlie moutli of the Gambia. As fur as these 
rivers have been iiavigat* d by Fmropeans, iheir banks 
have generally been found well cultivated and tliickly 
inhabited. 

Northward of the mouth of Senegal the coast becomes 
barren, and is inhabited only by w audering tribes of Arabs, 
as far as the frontiers of the kingdom or empire of Mo¬ 
rocco, wliich completes the circuit of Africa. 

INTERIOR OF AFRICA. 

The interior of Africa is very little known. Its’tw'o 
grand divisions are Soudan or Nigritia on the south, and 
Sahara or Great JJesert, on the north. 

Suudan contains both Moorish and Negro kingdoms with 
many populous towns, one of tiie most ’celebrated of which 
is Tonibucloo, the capital of this piM't of Africa, and the 
medium of commercial intercourse with the northern and 




300 


AFRICAN islands^ 


eastern countries. The ^great river of Central Africa is 
the Niger. Its ^course is towards the east 5 but its 
mouth has never yet been explored. 

AFRICAN ISLANDS. 

Madagascar. This noble island, the largest in the 
world except New Holland and Borneo, is 900 miles in 
length, with a mean breadth of about 250 miles. It is 
watered by a great number of rivers, and contains a great 
pioportion of fertile land. The’climate is healthy, and 
the heat not excessive. There are scarcely any of the 
tropical vegetables which either do not grow here spon¬ 
taneously, or may not be successfully cultivated. Horned 
cattle and sheep are abundant, unmolested by formidable 
beasts of prey. Rich mines are met with in the hilly 
parts, among whicli are different kinds of gold ore, pure 
rock crj'stal, and various precious stones. 'I'he inhabi¬ 
tants are friendly, intelligent, and excellent people. 
Some arc of a deep bbtck, and have woolly hair, otliers 
are tawny, and others copper-coloured ; but most are of 
an olive complexion. They are ail portly in their per¬ 
sons, and arise above the muldle stature. The French 
have repeatedly made setllenients on this island ; but in 
1811 it was surrendered to the British, in whose possess¬ 
ion it still remains. 

To the east of Madagascar are the well known isles of 
£ourbon, and Mauritius, or Isle oj France.^ '^he former be¬ 
longing to France, and the latter to Gi eat Britain. These 
islands, particularly the former, are ’subject to tremen¬ 
dous hurricanes. They are not very fertile. The Isle of 
Bourbon is the ’best cultivated, and ’produces sugar cane, 
cotton, and coffee. An attempt has been made to intro¬ 
duce into it the clove and nutmeg-trees, but though they 
have thriven in some measure, their product is inferior in 
quality to that of the Dutch Spice Islands. Both of 
these islands show marks of a volcarnc origin; and that of 
Bourbon has an existing volcano of which the eruptions 
are almost continual. 

Socotra is situated about 120 miles cast of Cape Guar- 
dafui. It is ’celebrated for its aloes, the best in the wmi Id. 

The Comoro islands are four in ’number. They are ex¬ 
tremely ’fertile in rice, sugar, cocoa, oranges, lemons, &c. 
The inhabitants are Arabians, tributary to the Portuguese, 


AFRICAN ISLANDS. 


301 


St. Helena ^lies between the continents of Africa and 
South America, 1200 miles west of the former, and J800 
east of the latter, and is 20 ^miles in circumference. It is 
a delightful and salubrious island, and tolerably fertile 
when not visited by long droughts which sometimes occur, 
There is only one harbour, which is of difficult access 
and easy defence. The English, who have occupied this 
island nearly two centuries, have here about 300 families, 
and keep upon it a small garrison. It is found ^useful as 
a place of call and rendezvous of the East India ships, 
particularly in time of war, when advices and orders are 
sent hitlrer for the direction of homew^ard bound vessels. 
This was the residence of the late Bonaparte, while a pris¬ 
oner to the allied sovereigns of Europe, where he died 
May 5, 1821. 

The uninhabited isle Ascpnsion, situated some degrees 
to the northward of »i. Helena, is occasionally ^visited by 
shipping for the refreshments of turtle and sea fowl. 

The Cape de Verd islands, containing about 40,000 inhab¬ 
itants, ^belong to the Portuguese, and aje 14 in number, of 
which the ’principal is St. Jago. These islands are reck¬ 
oned unhealthy; and the ’soil is for the most part stony 
and barren. The ’product, for which they are chiefly 
frequented by foreign ships, is salt, formed naturally by 
evaporation from the sea water, and requiring no other 
trouble than that of raking it from the ponds in which it 
granulates. 

The Canaryy ox Fortunate Islaiids, 13 in number, ’belong¬ 
ing to Spain, form an interesting group. Seven of these are 
inhabited, and ’afford wheat and barley, sugar, wine, fruits, 
and silk. The ’soil is excellent, and the climate pleasant 
and salubrious. Tlie most ’remarkable of them is Ten- 
criffe, ’famous for its lofty mountain or peak, which ranks 
among the highest measured summits, and is visible to a 
vast distance at sea. It is covered wdth snow during a great 
part of the year, and its top is always extremely cold. 
This island and that of Palma ’produce the celebrated 
Canary wine.. The capital of the Canaries is the tow’ii of 
Palma, in the island properly called Canary. The whole 
number of inhabitants is estimated at 100,000 of whom 
nearly half reside in Teneriffe. 

MaderWy ’belonging to Portugal, is a fine island, about 
50 miles in length, and 20 in breadth. Funchal is the 

B P 


302 


AFRICAN ISLANBS. 


principal town. This island is ^^remarkable for its excel¬ 
lent wine, called Madeira, of which it is computed 18,000 
* pipes are exported annually. Its principal trade is with 
the English and Americans. The population is estimated 
at 90,000. 

The Azores, or 'Western Islands, may be mentioned here 
in connexion with the foregoing, although far remote from 
either Europe or Africa. -They are nine in number, ’sub¬ 
ject to the Portuguese, containing a population of about 
160,000. St. Michael, Fayal, and Tercera are the princi¬ 
pal ones. Angra, the capital of Tercera, is the seat of 
government. St. Michael .is noted for small oranges of 
remarkable sweetness and flavour. Its capital is Ponta 
del Gada. One of them named Pico, has a peak scarcely 
inferior in height tothatofTenerifle. The Azoresin gen¬ 
eral are mountainous, and ’subject to eai thquakes, and 
tempestuous winds; but the ’climate is fine, and the land 
in many parts fertile, yielding the ’products of the south¬ 
ern parts of the temperate zone, such as grain, wine and 
fruits. 


BRIEF SKETCH 


OP 



The knowledge of the ancient Greeks and Romans, in 
geography, was very limited. Although they possessed 
navigation, yet the magnetic needle had not been invented. 
Without this wonderful guide, their mariners could not 
safely venture far from land; extensive seas were never 
crossed ; distant countries were never explored. 

They had no acquaintance with the countries north of 
Germany. The peninsula formed by the Baltic and the 
White Sea, comprehending Sweden, Norway, and Lap- 
land, by them was called Scandinavia, and was supposed 
to consist of a number of islands. East of Germany 
and north of the Black Sea, was S\rmatia, now Russia, 
equally unknown to them. In Asia they knew' nothing 
north of the Caspian, but comprehended all the country 
under the general name of Scythia. , 

India they knew as far as the Ganges. In Africa they 
knew little beyond lat. 10° N. and little of that perfectly, 
beyond the immediate coast of the Mediterranean, and 
the banks of the Nile. America was entirely unknown 
to them. 


EUROPE. 
Principal Seas. 


Ancient Names. 

Mare Mediterraneum, 
Pontus Euxinus, 
Codanus Sinus, 
ACjeum Mare, 
Propontis, 

Pul us Mmotis, 


Modern Names. 

Mediterranean, Sea, 
Black Sea, 

Baltic Sea, 
^Archipelago, 

Sea of Marmora, 
Sea of Azof. 



804 


ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. 


Principal Straits. 


Ancient Names. 


Modern Names. 


Fretum Herculeum, 
Fretum Gallicum, 
Hellespont, 

Thracian Bosphorus, 
Cimmerian Bosphorus, 


Strait of Gibralter, 

Strait of Dover, 
Dardanelles, 

Strait of Constantinople, 
Strait of Caffa, or Jenikale.^ 


Principal Rivers. 


An. Names.. 

Ister, 

Hvpanis, 

B nysthenes 
Tanais, 


Mod. Names. 

Danube, 

Dniester, 

Dnieper, 

Don. 


An. Names. 

Rha, 

Rhenus, 

Albis, 

Padus, 


Mod. Names 

Volga, 

Rhine, 

Elb, 

- Po. 


BRITAIN. 


Little is known of Great Britain before the invasion of 
it by the Romans under Julius Cesar. They extended 
their conquests as far as Scotland, then called Caledonia, 
and the inhabitants Picti, or Piets, who by their frequent 
incursions greatly harassed the Roman colony, to pre¬ 
vent which the Romans built a famous wall extending 
from New-Castle to Carlisle, 68 miles, called Hadrian’s 
Wall. 

Londinum, now London, was one of the principal towns. 

The ancient name of Ireland was Hibernia, and the sea 
(vhich separates it from Britain, Mare Hibernicum. 


SPAIN. 

The ancient name of Spain was Hispania; it was also 
called Iberia, and sometimes Hesperia, by the Greeks. 

Spain was divided by the Romans at first into two prov¬ 
inces, called Hispania Citerior, or Hither Spain, and His¬ 
pania Ulterior, or Farther Spain. It was afterwards divid¬ 
ed into three parts; Tarraconensis, Boetica, and Lusitania. 
The last corresponded nearly to the country now called 
Portugal. 



ANCIENT GEOGRAPHIC 


805 


Mount Calpe, now the Rock of^Gibralter, in Spain, and 
Mount Abyla, another promontory, 18 miles distant, on 
the opposite shore in Africa, were supposed by the an¬ 
cients to have been united until rent asunder by Hercules 
to open a communication between the Mediterranean sea 
and the Atlantic ocean ; hence they were called the pil¬ 
lars of Hercules. 


Prmcipal Rivers. 


Principal Towns. 
An. Names. 


An. Names. 

Iberus, 

Bcutis, 

Anas, 

Tai^us, 

Durius, 


Mod. Names. 
Ebro, 

Guadalquiver, 

Guadiana, 

Tagus, 

Duero. . 


Toletum, 

Carthagonova, 

Gades, 

llispalis, 

Olisippo, 


Mod. Names. 

Toledo, 

Carthagena 

Cadiz, 

Seville, 

Lisbon. 


The islands Majorca and Minorca were called by the 
Romans, Bileares Insulae, and by the Greeks, Gymnesiae. 
Their inhabitants were celebrated for their skill in 
slinging. 

GAUL. 


Gaul, by the Romans, was called “ Gallia Ulterior, or 
Transalpina,” Gaul beyond the Alps, to distinguish it 
from “ G tllia Citerior, or Cisalpina,” which lay on the 
same side of the Alps with Rome, and properly forms a 
part of Italy. It comprehended not only modern France, 
but also tne Netherlands, Switzerland, and some part of 
Germany. 

■ Gaul was originally divided among three great nations; 
the Belg®, Celbe, and Aquitani. It was divided by the 
Romans into four provinces. 


1. Gallia Bolgica, 3. Aquitania, 

2. Gallia Lugdunensis, 4. Gallia Narbonensis. 


Principal Pays^ Sfc. 


Ancient Names. 

Oceanus Aquitanicus, 
Oceanus Britannicus, 
Fretum Gallicuin, 
Gallicus Sinus, 


Modern Names. 

Bay of Biscay, 
British Channel, 
Strait of Dover, 
Gulf of Lyons. 



ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. 


a06 


Principal Rivers. 

An. Names. Mod. Names. 


Principal Toions. 

An. Names. Mod. Names. 


Rhenus, 

Scaldis, 

Sequana, 

Liger, 

Garumna, 

Rhodanus^ 


Rhine, 

Scheldt, 

Seine, 

Loire, 

Garonne, 

Rhone. 


Lugdunum, Lyons, 


Lutetia Paris- 
iorum, 
Bardigala, 
Massilia, 
Lugdunum Ba- 
tavorurn, 


Paris, 

Bourdeaux,^ 

Marseilles, 

Leyden. 


GERMANY. 


Germany, by the Romans called Germania, extended 
from the Rhine to the Vistula, and from the Baltic to the 
Danube. 

The most distinguished of the German nations were 
- the Suevi, contiguous to the Baltic; the Hermiones, ad¬ 
jacent to the Danube, and the Istsevones, adjacent to the 
Rhine. 

Hercynia Sylvia was an immense forest, so called, of 
such vast extent that it took Caesar nine days to cross it, 
and it had been travelled longitudinally si.xty days’ jour¬ 
ney without coming to a boundary. 


ITALY. 


Italy, by the Ancients called Italia, was the most cele¬ 
brated country in Europe. It was also called, at different 
periods, by various other names, as Hesperia, Ausonia, 
GEnotria, Saturnia. 

Its grand divisions were Gallia Cisalpina, comprehend¬ 
ing all the northern part, and Italia Propria, comprehend¬ 
ing the remainder, the most southern part of which, at one 
time was called Magna Grsecia. 

A comparative view of the ancient and modern divisions may be 
acen m the following Table. 



ANCIENT WtEOCRAPHY. 


im 


C Liguria, 
Taurini, 
Insubres, 
Cennomanni, 

Cisalpine Gaul. ^ Veneti^^^ 

Garni, 
Histria, 
Lingones, 
Boii, 

' Etruria, 
Umbria, 
Picenum, 
Latium, 

Italy Proper. .( Campania, 

‘ ) bammum, 

Apulia, 
Calabria, 
Lucania, 
(^Brutii, 


\ 

I Kingdom of Sardinicjf' 


i*Austrian Italy.. 


J 


Modena,Parma, and part a 
the States of the Church, 

Tuscany and Lucca> 


Kingdom of NapleSi ’ 


J 


SfMs. The principal seas were Mare Adriaticum, Sive 
Superum, or Upper Sea, now the Gulf of Venice : Mare 
Tuscum, Tyrrhenum, Sive Inferum, or Lower Sea, on 
the west; and the Mare Ionium, or Ionian Sea, on the 
south. 


Principal Rivers, 


Principal Towns, 


An. Names. 

Pad us, or 
Eridanus 
Athesis, 
Mincius, 
Arnus, 
Tiber, 


Mod. Names. 

} Po, 

Adige, 

Mincio, 

Arno, 

Tiber. 


An. Names. 

Rome, 
Parthenope, 
or Neapolis 
Florentia, 
Pdtavium, 
Mediolanum, 


Mod. NamQs. 

Rome, 

Naples, _ 

Florence, 
Padua, 
Milan. 


Rome was founded 753 years before the birth of Christ, 
by Romulus. It was built on seven hills, and although, 
in its origin, one of the moat humble of cities, was des¬ 
tined to become the capital of the largest empire in the 
ancient world. It was from 15 to ‘20 miles in circumfer¬ 
ence, surrounded by a wall on which were 014 watch 













308 


ANCIEKT ©EOGRAPflV. 


towers. It had 37 gates, and was watered by seven aquei? 
ducts, carried over vallies and supported by arches at 
immense expense. Some of these aqueducts still remain. 

Roads. The principal Roman Roads were Via Appia, 
from Rome to Brundusium, now Brindisi, at which place 
the Romans usually embarked for Greece j Via Flaminia^- 
Via Aurelia, and Via Claudia. 


ITALIAN ISLANDS. 

f 

SicANiA, called also Trinacria, from its irregular shape, 
(now Sicily) is the largest of the Italian islands, and was 
formerly so fertile as to be reckoned one of the granaries 
of the Roman Empire. 

It had three noted promontories: 1, Pelorum, at the 
east, adjacent to Italy : 2, Pachynum, at the south; 3, 
Lilyboeum, at the west. 

The ancients fabled that the giant Typhceus was buried 
under Sicily, Pelorum and Pachynum being placed on each 
arm, Lilybceum on his feet, and' ^Etna on his head, and 
that the earthquakes and eruptions of iEtna were caused 
by his attempting to move. 

Near Messana (now Messina) on the Sicilian shore, was 
Charybdis, and above it on the Italian shore, Scylla, two 
well knovvn objects of terror to ancient mariners, though 
now much less formidable. 

Syracusa, (now Syracuse,) and Agrigentum were two of 
the most celebrated cities. 

InsulsB iEoliae, were said to be the residence of iEolus, 
the supposejl god of the winds. Here also Vulcan was sup- 
posetl to have his forges, hence they were sometimes called 
VulcdnsD. They are now called the Lipari Islands. 


GREECE. 

Greece was called by the natives Hellas, and the people 
were called Hellenes. By the poets the inhabitants were 
called Achtei, Danai, Pelasgi, Argivi, Achivi, &c. 


ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. 


m' 

Greece anciently was divided into Peloponnessus, Greece 
Proper, Thessaly, Epirus, and Macedonia. 

Peloponnessus is the peninsula, now called Morea, con¬ 
nected with the rest of Greece by the narrow isthmus of 
Corintli. On this isthmus the Isthmian games were cele¬ 
brated in honour of Neptune, 


Principal Bays and Straits. 


Ancient Names. 

Corinthiacus Sinus, 
Saronicus Sinus, 
Argolicus Sinus, 
Thermiacus Sinus, 


Modern Namesi 

Gulf of Lepanto, 
Gulf Eugia, 

Gulf of Napoli, 
Gulf of Salonichi. 


Athens, now Atini, or Setines, was the most celebrated 
city of all Greece, and gave birth to some of the most emi¬ 
nent philosophers and poets of antiquity. 

Sparta, or Lacedaemon, was the chief city in Pelopon- 
nessus, and one of the most powerful cities in Greece, 


ASIA MINOR. 


Asia Minor is that country situated between the Euxine 
and the Mediterranean Sea. 

It is divided into many provinces. Along the shore of 
the Euxine, adjoining the Propontis, is Bithynia, then 
Paphlagonia, and east of it Pontus. Along the .^gean 
shore is Mysia, the coast of which is called Troas, the 
celebrated scene of the Iliad of Homer. Further south is 
Lydia, the coast of which is .^Folia and Ionia, and below 
Lydia is Caria. The coasts of these three provinces were 
chiefly occupied by Grecian colonies. 

East of Caria, along the shore of the Mediterranean, ' 
were Lycia, Pamphylia, with Pisidia to the north, and 
Cilicia. In the centre were Phrygia and Cappadocia. 

The seven clmrches of Asia, viz. Ephesus, Smyrna, 
Pergamus, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia, and Laodicea, 
recorded by St. John in the Revelation, are all situated in 
the western part of Asia Minor. 


310 


ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. 


SYRIA. 

Syria is that country situated between the eastern ex¬ 
tremity of the Mediterranean and the river Euphrates. 
That part of Syria which occupied the coast of the Med¬ 
iterranean, was divided into Phoenicia to the north, and 
Palestina to the south. 

Phobnicia is most justly celebrated for having made the 
earliest progress in civdization and tire arts. 

The most considerable cities were Antioch, where the 
followers of Christ were first called Christians; Damascus, 
celebrated in botli sacred and profane history; Tyre, dis¬ 
tinguished in ancient time for its commerce; Heliopolis, 
now Balbec, and Palmyra, celebrated for their extensive 
ruins. 

Palestina. This is the country which was called the 
Land of Canaan, afterwards the Land of Promise, the Land 
of Israel, Judea, Palestine, and the Holy Land. 

This country was divided by the Romans into three 
provinces, viz. Galilee, Samaria and Judea. 

Jerusalem was the capital of Judea, and the chief city 
of all Palestine. It was built on several hills, the largest 
of which was Mount Sion, which formed the southern part 
of the city. A valley towards the north separated this from 
Acra, the second, or lower city, on the east of which, was 
Mount Moriah, the site of the temple of Solomon. Still 
north was Bethesda, where was the pool at which the 
cripple was healed by our Saviour. Northeast of Mount 
Moriah was the Mount of Olives, lying beyond the brook 
and valley of Kedron. On the south was the valley of 
Hinnom, and at the north was mount Calvary, the scene 
of the.crucifixion of our Lord Jerusalem was utterly de¬ 
stroyed by Titus, according to the prophecy of our Saviour, 
A. D. 70. 


AFRICA. 

Beginning at the Straits of Gibralter, and proceeding 
along the Mediterranean coast, the first country was 
Mauritania, now Morocco and Fez. East of it was Nu- 
midia, now Algiers, and east of Numidia was Africa Pro- 


ANCIENT GEOGRAPHY. 


311 


pria, or Africa, properly so called, now Tunis, lying along 
that part of the coast which bends from north to south. 
The bay formed by the southern part of this bend was 
the Syrtis Minor, a dangerous quicksand, and that formed 
by another sweep of the sea, after which the coast again 
takes a northeasterly direction, was the Syrtis Major; be¬ 
tween the two Syrtis was Tripolis, now Tripoli. East of 
the Syrtis Major was Cyrenaica, now Barca, and east of it 
Marmarica, and still east, at the mouth of the Nile, was 
^gyptus, or Egypt. 

Below Numidia was Gsctulia, now Biledulgerid ; below 
Cyrenaica and Marmarica was’ Libya, properly so called^ 
and below Egypt was iEthiopia. 



Q 




THE MAEINEE^S COMPASS, 


The Mariner’s Compass, is the representation of the hori 2 on on a 
circular piece of paper called a card, which card being properly fix¬ 
ed to a piece of steel, called the Needle, (touched by the magnet or 
load-stone, inclining its point always northerly) and placed so as to 
turn freely round a pin that supports it, will show the position of the 
meridian and other points, and consequently towards which of them 
the ship sails. 

Notk. The letters JVJVE, JVEBJ\f, &c. are to be read—north 
by east, north north-east, north-east by north, &c. 



N. B. The four points quartering the above circle, are called 
oardinal points, and are named east, west, north, and south ; the east 
and west are those points on which the sun rises and sets when ho 
is in the equinoctial; and the north and south points are those which 
Goincide with the meridian of the place, and are directed tow’ards the 
north and south poles of the world. 

Each quarter of the horizon is further divided into eight points, 
which are very necessary to the geographer for the distinguishing 
the limits of countries j but the use of these divisions is much 
more considerable when applied to the mariner’s compass. Before 
the invention" of this excellent and most useful instrument, it was ' 
Usual in long voyages, to sail by or keep along the coast, or at least 
to have it in sight; as is evident, by the voyages of St. Paul, Acts 
,xx. 13. and xxvii. 2, which made voyages long and very dangerous. 











































































































































eoltsti'uctfon of 


The best way to perfect the pupil in a knowledge of the g^og* 
Taphy of any country or portion of the globe, is by putting him to 
construct a welt projected map of such country. Some plain rules, 
therefore, embracing as few geometrical problems as possible, will 
here be offered for this purpose. 

1. To draw a map of any particular country. 

When only small portions of the globe, as any particular coun¬ 
try, are to be delineated on a map, the degrees of longitude and 
latitude may be represented by straight lines ; of course the con¬ 
struction of such maps is extremely simple and easy. 

For example : Suppose it be required to draw a map of Spain 
and Portugal, which lie between 10° VV. and 40° E. longitude, and 
between 36° and 43° N. latitude. 

First, draw the line A B, plate I fig. 1, for a meridian passing 
through the middle of the country, on which set off tight equal 
parts, ah c d e / gB, taken at pleasure, or from any convenient 
scale for degrees. 

On the point A erect a perpendicular, and draw the line CD; 
also draw E F, through B, parallel to C D, for the extreme paral¬ 
lels of latitude. Then to complete the parallels, draw lines 
through a b c d e f g^ parallel to the lines C I) and E F. 

To draw the meridians : divide a degree, as the distance from 
A to a, into sixty equal parts, if it be large enough, or if it be 
very small, into six equal parts, fig. 3,* each of which parts will 
contain 10 geographical miles : Then because the length of a de¬ 
gree in each parallel of latitude, decreases towards the pole, look 
in the table showing the number of miles contained in a degree of 
longitude in each parallel of latitude., and find the contents of a de¬ 
gree of longitude in the latitude of 36°, viz. 48,54 miles. From 
the deirree as already divided, or scale of equal parts. Figure 3, 
take the parts 48,34, which will be Jive of those divisions very 
nearly., and set off the distance 7 times, each w’ay, from A to¬ 
wards D and C. Again, from the same table, finding the extent 
of a degree in the latitude of 46°, viz. 41,68 miles, set it off both 
ways from B towards F and E : Then from the points of division 

• To divide any given line into any proposed number of equal parts / 
suppose the line A B, Fig. 5, to be divided into six equal parts,— 
from A draw A C, and from B draw B D parallel to A C. On 
each of these lines beginning at A and B, set off as many equal 
parts of any length, as the line A B is to be divided into. Join the 
opposite points of division by the lines A C, 1 5,2 4, &c. and thus 
will the line A B be divided into six equal parts. 

To divide a degree^ or any line approaching nearly to the extent of 
an inch., into 60 equal parts for the purpose of taking the parts of a 
degree of longitude in different parallels of latitude ; form a diagonal 
scale. Fig. 6, on the given line A B, by first dividing it into six 
equal parts, as before directed, after which erect the perpendicu¬ 
lars A C and B D ; draw ten lines at equal distances, parallel with 
the line A B; also from the points of division in the line A B, draw 
parallel lines to intersect the line C D ; draw the diagonal lines 
B 10, &c. and thus you will have a scale pf 60 equal parts formed 
tp the line A D. 


Cc 



S14 


(INSTRUCTION OF MAPS. 


in the line E F, to the corresponding; points in the line C D, draw 
so many right lines for the meridians. Number the degrees of 
latitude up both sides of the map, and the degrees of longitude at 
top and bottom. Also in some vacant place, make a scale of 
miles, by dividing a degree into 70 equal parts or English miles, 
to serve for the purpose of finding the distances of places upon the 
map. I'kis is the only kind of maps to which a scale of miles can 
be truly adapted. 

Having the latitude and longitude of the principal places, it 
will be easy to set them down in the map ; for any town must be 
placed where the circles of its latitude and longitude intersect; 
for instance, Lisbon whose latitude is 38° 42' N. and longitude 
9° 9' W. will be at G ; and Barcelona, whose latitude is 41® 26' N, 
and longitude 2® 13' E. will be at H. 

The sea coast may be described by setting down the capes and 
principal places situated upon it, and then drawing a continued 
line through them all. In the same manner rivers are delineated 
by setting down the towns. Sac. by which they pass. 

2. To draw a map of any large tract of country. 

When a large tract of country or portion of the globe is to be 
delineated on a map, the degrees of latitude should be represented 
by curved lines. 

For example : Suppose it be required to draw a map of Europe, 
situated between 35° and 70 N latitude, and between 25° W. and 
55° E. longitude, and that the parallels and meridians be drawn 
lo every 5 degrees. 

Draw the line A B, Fig. 2, and in the middle raise the perpendio 
nlar c c, on which set OS’ 7 equal parts bdhinnw c., each of which 
is to be considered as containing 5 degrees of latitude, and draw 
the short line i o parallel to A B. Divide c 5, or the distance be¬ 
tween the parallels into six equal parts. Fig, 4. Or, if it be large 
enough, into 60 equal parts, in the manner as exhibited Fig. 6, 
and explained in the foregoing note. Then in the table for de¬ 
creasing longitudes, find the contents of a degree of longitude, in 
the latitude of 35°, viz. 49,15 miles. From the scale of equal 
parts. Fig. 4, take the parts 49,15 which are Jive of the divisions in 
the scale very nearly.^ divide the distance and set one half from e 
to D, and the other half from e to C. Find then the extent of a 
degree of longitude, in the latitude of 70°, viz. 20,52 miles ; and 
taking that distance from the scale of equal parts. Fig. 4, or diag¬ 
onal scale if you have one, divide it as before, laying one half from 
c to f, and the other half from c to o. Draw straight lines between 
the points D and and C and o, and thus D C f o, is a projection 
for 5 degrees of longitude, and 35 degfees of latitude. 

To draw the next meridians ; take, with a pair of compasses, the 
distance from D to o, or from C to and sitting one foot in D, and 
then in C, describe the arches i r and o u ; and in like manner, 
•with the same extent in your compasses, set one foot first in i and 
then in o, and describe the arches a a and s s. Then take the dis¬ 
tance from D to C, and set it from D to H, and from C to G, 
Take likewise the distance from i to o, and set it from i to r, and 
from 0 to w, and draw lines from r to H, and from u to G. 

After the same manner are all the other meridians to be drawn 
fo complete the map. 


CONSTRUCTION OF MAPS 


315 


To draw the parallels, with a flexible ruler, if the map be large, 
^raw curved lines through the points, H 1) e C G, &c. also through 
the points, r t c o w, &c. for the extreme parallels of latitude Di¬ 
vide the extreme meridians on the right and left hand sides of 
your map, between the points of intersection by the extreme par- 
allels, g g and p p into seven equal parts corresponding to the di* 
visions, h d h m n u> c, \n the line e c. Through these three cor¬ 
responding points, in the line e c, and in the extreme meridians, 
with a flexible ruler, as before directed, draw curved lines for the 
intermediate parallels of latitude. 

If the map be small, these curved lines may be drawn with com¬ 
passes, by so adjusting one foot at a distance on the line e c, that 
the other shall pass through the three corresponding points in the 
line e c, and in the extreme meridians. 

The meridians and parallels being thus drawn, the map is to be 
completed as already described in the former example. 

3. Globular projection of a Sphere. 

In projecting a sphere, unless it be on a very small scale, it will 
be necessary some of the lines should be protracted to a very con¬ 
siderable length. The first precaution therefore is to be provided 
with compasses and paper, that will admit these lines of the ne¬ 
cessary extent. 

A sphere 2 inches in diameter, such as that, Plate II. may be 
projected with a pair of common compasses, protracting the line 
which passes through the poles to 15 inches, and that in the di¬ 
rection of the equator to 12 inches. 

A sphere 3 inches in diameter will require the line passing 
through the poles to be 25 inches in length, and that of the equator 
17 inches. The compasses, if of the common kind, must be length¬ 
ened by some artificial means to strike the parallels nearest tlie 
equator. 

To admit these lines, two or more sheets of paper may be put 
together with wafers, or a sheet of paper may be fastened with 
wafers to a smoothly planed board, which will answer every pur¬ 
pose. 

Hut if the sphere to be projected be more than two inches in di¬ 
ameter, a flexible ruler, or an even piece of whale-bone, is much 
to be preferred to compasses or any other method, for drawing the 
parallels and the meridians nearest to the equator, and to the axis 
of the sphere. The manner of using it is in conjunction with a 
stiff ruler, to which it must be confined at the ends, and in the 
middle, forced into the curve, which may be desired, by wedges 
insert^ between the two. 

Having made the necessary preparations, draw the line A B, 
Plate II, which for a sphere 2 inches in diameter, as before direct¬ 
ed, must be protracted 12 inches in length. At a raise a perpen¬ 
dicular, and draw the line U a F, which must be extended 15 
inches ; that is, about 7 inches without the circle at each pole. 

Take any extent in your compasses proportionate to the diame¬ 
ter of the sphere you would project, here the ninth part of an inch, 
and with one font ip set off this distance, 9 times from a to A 



S16 


CONSTRUCTION OF MAPS. 


also from a F, from a I, and from a D, and mark the divisions, 
each of which will contain 10 degrees. 

Extend the compasses from a to A, and strike the circle A F I 
D, each quadrant or quarter of which, as from A to F, must now 
be divided into 9 equal parts, in the following manner. With the 
same extent in your compasses, with which you struck the circle, 
and which is called the radius of the circle, set one foot in A, and 
the other will mark the division at d ; and also set one foot in F, and 
the other will mark the division at b ; thus the quadrant A F be¬ 
comes divided into three equal parts, each of which, as A 6, &c. 
must be carefully divided into three other equal parts. The same 
with each of the other quarters of the circle. 

The circle and the diameters being thus divided into 36 equal 
parts, each of which contains 10 degrees, it only remains to draw 
the parallels and the meridians, and these divisions are the points 
through which the parallels and the meridians are to be drawn.— 
What remains is extremely easy, provided these divisions have 
been accurately made. 

First, to draw the parallels ; begin at one of the poles, for ex¬ 
ample, the south ; there are the three points e c i, through which 
to draw the arc of a circle, which shall be the parallel of 80° south 
latitude. This is done by adjusting one foot of the compasses on 
the line D a F, as at n, so that the other shall pass directly through 
the three points, c e i, and thus describe the arc c c i, which will 
be the parallel of 80° south latitude. This done, with the same 
opening of the compasses, draw the parallel of 80° north lati¬ 
tude. In the same manner all the parallels are to be drawn. In 
describing the next parallel, or that of 70°, one foot of the com¬ 
passes will fall at y, while the other passes through the points 
gmp. 

To draw the meridians; As all the meridians pass through the 
poles, consequently, to draw, for instance, the meridian of 80° W. 
longitude from London, adjust one foot of the compasses on the 
line A B, as at /t, so that the other shall cut the equator at j, (80° 
W. longitude from London) and pass directly through the poles. 
Then describe the arc F j D, which will be the meridian of 80° 
W. longitude from London. 

In the same manner all the meridians are to be drawn, so ad¬ 
justing one foot of the compasses on the line A B, that the other 
shall cut tiie equator at the proper division and pass through the 
poles. In describing the next meridian west, or that of 90°, the 
foot of the compass will fall at k. 

The centres on which to describe these arcs may be found geo¬ 
metrically as follows ; for the parallel of 60 N. latitude, with one 
foot of the compass in o, and the other extended any length 
more than half the distance to w, describe the arc 2 2. With the 
same extent in the compasses, set one foot in to, and with the oth¬ 
er describe the arc 3 3. Through the points of intersection draw 
the line t r, and where this line cuts the diameter or axis, extend¬ 
ed without the sphere, viz. at a;, will be the centre on which to 
describe the arc d o w, which will be the parallel of 60° N. lat^ 
itude. In the same way may any or all the centres be found. 





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A Globe or Sphere is a round body, every part of whose surface 
is equally distant from its centre. 

Artificial g'lobes are of two kinds, viz. the lerrestrial^ which ex¬ 
hibits a representation of the earth, with the natural form and situ¬ 
ation of land and water; and the celestial^ which has on its sur¬ 
face a representation of all the visible stars in the heavens, and the 
images or figures of all the various constellations into which these 
stars are arranged. 

Each globe consists of the following parts, viz. 

1. The Two Poles (being the ends of the axis on which the 
globe turns) which, when applied to the heavens, signify the 
points directly over the terrestrial Poles. That which is visible to 
us is called the Arctic, or North Pole; and its opposite, the Ant¬ 
arctic, or South Pole. 

2. The Brazen Meridian^ divided into 4 quarters,* and each 
quarter into 90 degrees. This circle surrounds the globe, and is 
joined to it at the poles. 

3. The Wooden Horizon^ which surrounds the globe, the up¬ 
per part of which represents 4he true horizon, and has several cir¬ 
cles drawn upon it: the innermost is marked with all the points of 
the mariner’s compass ; the next contains the names, characters, 
and figures of the twelve signs of the Zodiac, subdivided into de¬ 
grees ; and the third is a calender of months and days. By the 
two last is instantly seen the signs and degrees the sun is in during 
every day in the year. 

4. The Hour Circle divided into twice twelve, equal twenty*- 
four hours, fitted to the brazen meridian round the north pole. 

5. The Quadrant of altitude^ which is a thin slip of brass di¬ 
vided into 90 degrees, corresponding with those on the equinoc¬ 
tial. It may be screwed on occasionally to the top of the brass 
meridian, to measure the distance of places. 

OF THE CIRCLES ON THE GLOBES. 

The circles on the globe are divided into Great and Less. 

* Great Circles are such as divide the globe into two equal parts, 
as the Equator, the Ecliptic, the Meridians, the Horizon, and the 
Colures; the Less circles divide the globe into unequal parts, as 
the two Tropics and the two Polar Circles. 

Cc2 








518 


ttF THE GLOBES. 


The Equator or Equinoctial, coramonly called The Line hj 
mariners, is a ^reat circle, divided into 180 dej^rees each w'ay 
from the first or chief meridian ; makingf altog'ether 360 deg^rees, 
if reckoned quite round the globe to the point from whence they 
begin. This circle divides the globe into northern and southern 
hemispheres. 

"I he Ecliptic is a great circle, cutting the equator obliquely in 
the opposite points of Arie^ and Libra, and is designed to represent 
that path it} the heavens which the sun seems to desi ^h e by the 
earth’s annual revolution round it. It is divided into*||i'‘el ve equal 
parts, called signs, which correspond with the twelve months, and 
each sign is subdivided into thirty parts, called degrees. 

The names and characters of these signs, with the time of the 
sun’s entering them, are as follows: 


a 'l 

Names. 

^ 1. Aries 

Signs. 

Y' the Ram ; 

Sun enters. 
March 20th. 

5* i 

) 2. Taurus 

0 the Bull; h; 

April 

20th. 

) 

\ 3 Gemini 

pj the Twins ' 

May 

21st. 

c § 

1 4. Cancer 

Op the Crab ; 

June 

21st. 

B i 

‘ 5. Leo 

the Lion; 

July 

23rd, 

D 1 

1 

J 

^ 6. Virgo 

qj the Virgin; 

Aug. 

23rd. 


1 r. Libra 

the Scales; 

Sept. 

23pd. 

ll 

’ 8. Scorpio 

rn, the Scorpion ; 

Oct. 

23rd. 

.15 

* 9. Sagittarius 

/ the Archer; 

Nov. 

22nd. 

^ J 

• 10. Capricornus Vf the Goat; 

Dec. 

22nd, 

3 ) 

I 

o 1 

^11. Aquarius 

the Waterman ; 

Jan. 

20th. 

^ ) 

12. Pisces 

^ the Fishes ; 

Feb. 

19th. 


The Zodiac^ so called, which is 16 degrees broad, (8 degrees orr 
each side of the eclipticj contains the above mentioned signs; from 
which the sun never departs, and within the bounds of which, all 
the planets perform their revolutions. 

The Meridians are those circles that pass from pole to pole, 
and divide the globe into the eastern and western hemispheres. 
There are commonly marked on the globes, twenty-four meridians, 
one through every 15 degrees, corresponding to the twenty-four 
hours of the day and night. But every place, though ever so little 
to the east or west, has its own meridian. 

The first meridian, with English Geographers, is drawn through 
London. 

The Horizon is thajt circle you see in a clear day, where the 
sky and the earth, or water seem to meet; this is called the uwf- 
bU or sensible horizon^ and is of greater or less extent according 
to the distance of the eye from the level of the earth. Thus, an 
eye placed at the height of five feet from the surface of the earth 
or sea will merely have a prospect of two miles and a quarter 
arou id, supposing the earth to be perfectly level: but at the 
height of twenty five feot it will receive a prospect of five miles 
and three quarters. That called the rathml homon encompassea 


OF THE GLOBES. 319 

the globe exactly in the middle, and is represented by the wooden 
frame already described. 

The Colures are two great circles supposed to intersect each 
other at right angles in the poles ; and are called, one the solsti¬ 
tial, and the other the equinoctial colure, because one passes 
through the solstitial, and the other through the equinoctial points 
of the ecliptic. The first determines the solstices; and the second 
shows the equinoxes ; and by dividing the ecliptic into four equal 
parts, they also designate the four seasons of the year. The colures 
are drawn only on the Celestial Globe. 

Kote. For the Tropics, Polar Circles, Zones, Degrees, Lati¬ 
tude, Longitude, Szc. the pupil is referred to the “ Definitions’^ 
contained in the beginning of this book. 

PROBLEMS ON THE TERRESTRIAL GLOBE. 

Problem I.— To find the latitude of any place. 

Turn the globe, and bring the place to the graduated edge of 
the brazed meridian ; and the degree on the meridian is the lati¬ 
tude north or south, as it may be on the north or south side of the 
equator. 

Thus the latitude of London is 5l-i north; and of St. Helena 
nearly 16 degrees south. 

What is the latitude of Cairo in Egyp* ?—Of the Cape of Good 
Hope.^—Of Cape Horn !*—Of Constantinople ?—Of Boston .•*—and 
of Botany Bay ^ 

Problem II. To find the longitude of any place. 

Bring the place to the brazen meridian, and the degree on the 
equator shows the longitude from London. 

Thus the longitude of the island Ceylon is 81 degrees east; of 
Lisbon 9 degrees west. 

What is the longitude of Archangel ?—Of Babelmandel I —Of 
Gibralter ?—Of Jerusalem ^ 

Problem III.— The longitude and latitude of any place being 

given^ to find that place. 

Look for the longitude on the equator, and bring it to the bra¬ 
zen meridian; then under the given degree of latitude will be 
the place required. 

Thus the place whose longitude is 31° 30' east, and latitude 30° 
40' north is Cairo ; and the place which has near six degrees west 
longitude, and 16 degrees south latitude, is St Helena. 

Whut places arc those that have the following longitudes and 
latitudes: 79° 50' west Ion. ami 33° 22' north lat.—76° 50' west 
Ion. and 33° 15' south lat. and 8° 35' east Ion. and 40° 53' north lat..^ 
What place is that whose longitude is nearly 78 degrees west, 
but which has no latitude I 

pROBi.EM IV — To find the difference of latitude of any two places. 

If the places are in the saajc hemisphere, bring each to the 
meridian, and subtract the latitude of the one from that of the 
other; if in difi'erent hejaispheres, add the latitude of the one to 
(hat of the other. 


3^0 


op THE GLOBES. 


Thus the difference of latitude between London and Madras is 
38° 28' ; between Paris and Cape Horn is 104° 49'. 

What is the difference of latitude between Copenhagen and Gib- 
ralter?—between London and the Cape of Good Hope ?—between 
Bengal and St. Helena ?-*between Madrid and Moscow ?—between 
Leghorn and Liverpool ?—between Pekin and Philadelphia ? 

Problem V.— To find the difference of longitude of any two “places,' 

Bring one of the places to the brazen meridian, and mark its 
longitude ; then bring the other place to the meridian, and the 
number of degrees between its longitude and the first mark, is the 
difference of its longitude. 

Thus the difference of longitude between London and Con¬ 
stantinople is 29 degrees ; between Constantinople and Madras is 
51° 20'. 

What is the difference of longitude between Brest and Cape 
Horn ?—between Charleston in America, and Cork in Ireland ?— 
between Rome and Cape Finisterre ?—between Canton and the 
most northerly point of the Orkney Islands?—between the most 
northerly of Madagascar and Otaheite ?—between Mecca and 
Calcutta ? 

Problem VI.— To find the distance of any two places on the globe. 

Lay the graduated edge of the quadrant of altitude over both 
places, and the degrees between them multiplied by 69-^ will give 
the distance in English miles. 

Thus the distance between Boston and the Island Bermuda is 
11° 30'or 799 miles; between London and Jamaica, is 4,691 
miles. 

What is the distance between Samarcand in Tartary and Pe¬ 
kin?—between North Cape and Gibralter?—between Rio Janei¬ 
ro and the Cape of Good Hope ?—between Madrid and Cairo ?—^ 
between Boston and Cayenne ? 

Problem \\\.—~The hour at any place being given^ to find what 
hour it is at any other place.* 

Bring the place where the hour is given, to the brazen meridian^ 
and set the index of the hour circle to that hour, then turn the 
globe till the proposed place come under the meridian, and the 
index will point to the present hour at that place. 


*When the distance or difference of longitude between two places is known, it is easy to 
ascertain their difference of time by calculation. It is noon at twelve o’clock, when any 
place on the globe is exactly towards the sun, and the succession of day and night, of morn¬ 
ing, noon, and evening, may be beautifully shewn by turning the terrestrial globe in the sun¬ 
shine, or in the light of a fire or caudle But to ascertain exactly the number of hours and 
minutes in which, at the same moment of time, two places differ, it is necessary to divide 
the difference of longitude by i S, because every i s degrees is equal to one hour of time; 
and consequently, also every degree is equal to four minutes of time. For example, when it 
is noon at London, it will be four o’clock in the afternoon at all places which have sixty 
degrees of longitude east of London, and eight in the morning to all places which are sixty, 
degrees west of London. At all places which have I80 degrees difference of longitude, it 
will be twelve o’clock at night when it is noon at London. And, in this manner, the hour in 
any part of the world may be calculated, by adding Wtbe giTStthoui wlieii th? Plate M5a»t,aa4 
by subtracting when it is west. 



OF THE GLOBES. 


521 


Thus when it Is twelve o’clock at noon in Boston, it is nearly 
half past four in the afternoon at the island St. Helena ; but at 
Owhyhee it is only about a quarter past six in the morning;. 

When it is ten in the forenoon at London, what is the time at 
Calcutta, Canton, Pelew Islands, Barbadoes, the western side of 
Lake Superior, Owhyhee, and Eastern Islands ? 

Problem VTIL To rectify the globe for the latitude^ zenith^ and 

suri's place. 

1. For the latitude ; Elevate the pole above the horizon, ac¬ 
cording to the latitude of the place. 

2. For the zenith ; Screw the quadrant of altitude on the merid¬ 
ian at the g;iven degree of latitude, counting from the equator to¬ 
wards the elevated pole 

3. For the sun’s place ; Find the sun’s place on the horizon, 
and then bring the same place found on the ecliptic to the merid¬ 
ian, and set the hour index at twelve at noon. 

Thus to rectify for the latitude of London on the 10th day of 
May ; the globe must be so placed that the north pole t-hall be 
51-J- degrees above the north side of the horizon, then v5li^ will be 
found on the zenith of the meridian on which the quadrant must 
be screwed—On the horizon the lOlh of May answers to the 20th 
of Taurus, which find on the ecliptic, and bring it to the meridi¬ 
an, and set the index to twelve 

Rectify the globe for London, Petersburg, Madras, Pekin, Que¬ 
bec, and Boston, for the 24th of February, 27th of June, and the 
6th of August. 

Problem IX.— To find at what hour the sun rises and sets any 
day in the year.^ and also upon what point of the compass. 

Rectify for the latitude and sun’s place, (Prob. VTIL) and turn 
the sun’s place to the eastern edge of the horizon, and the index 
will point to the hour of rising ; then bring it to the western edge 
of the horizon, and the index will show the setting. 

Thus on the 16th of March at Boston, the sun rises a little after 
six, and sets a little before six in the evening. 

What time does the sun rise and set at Petersburg, Naples, 
Canton, Gibralter, Teneriffe, and Boston, on the 15th of April, 
the 4th of July, and the 2Gth of November? 

J^'ote. On the 2lst of March the sun rises due east, and sets 
due west ; between this and the 21st of September, it rises and 
sets to the northward of these points, and in the winter months 
to the southward of them. VV^hen the sun’s place is brought to 
the eastern or western edge of the horizon, it marks the point of 
the compass upon which it rises or sets that day. 

Problem X.— Tojind the length of the day and night at anytime 

of the year. 

Double the time of the sun’s rising, which gives the length of 
the night: double the time of his setting, which gives the lengtli 
of the day. 

Thus, on the 25th of May, the sun rises at London about four 
o’clock, and sets at eight. The length of the night is twice four 
or eight hours; the length of the day is twice eight, or sixteen 
hours. 


522 


OF THE GLOBES. 


What is the length of the day and the night 03 ;! the 22d of April* 
at London, Madrid, St. Helena, Boston, Mexico and Canton? 

Problem XI.— The day of f he month being given^ to find thesun?s 
declination^ and all those places where the sun will be vertical at 
noon that day. 

Find the sun’s place on the ecliptic, and bring it to the meridi¬ 
an, and the degree which stands over it is the sun’s declination. 
Then turn the globe from -vvesl to east, and to all the places that 
pass under that degree will the sun be vertical that day. 

Thus, on the 27lh of October, the sun’s declination will be 13 
degrees south, and will be vertical at St. Salvador, in South Amer¬ 
ica, &c. &c. on that day. On the 10th of May, the sun is verti¬ 
cal at Pegu, the Red Sea, Hindustan, Cochin-China, and Porto 
Rico. 

What is the sun’s declination, and to what places will he be 
vertical on the 10th of February, 12th of March, the 9th of April, 
the 15th of August, the 21st of September, and the sixth of Novem¬ 
ber? 

When will the sun pass vertically over Surinam ?—the most 
easterly part of the bay of Honduras ?—the islands St. Helena, 
Ascension and Mauritius ? 

What two days in the year will a person at St. Domingo have 
no shadow at noon ? 

Problem XIL —At a given place and hour^ to find where the sun 

is then vertical. 

Bring the sun’s place, found in the ecliptic for that day, to the 
meridian, which shows his declination : elevate the pole to that 
declination ; then bring the given place to the meridian, and set 
the index to twelve o’clock at noon. Turn the globe till the in¬ 
dex points to the given hour ; and the place exactly under th^ 
sun’s declination on the brazen meridian will have the sun verti¬ 
cal at the given time. 

Thus it will be found that the sun is vertical at Poit Roy^il in 
.Tamaica, when it is at a few minutes past five in the afternoon on 
the 11th of May in London. 

On the 24th of April, when it is six in the evening at Stockholm 
in Sweden, the sun will be vertical at Boston. 

Where is the sun vertical on the 24th of June, the 11th of July, 
the 16th of August, and the tenth of November, when it is seven 
in the morning and twelvg at night in London ? 

Problem XIII.— The day and hour being given^ to find all those 
places of the earth where the sun is then rising and setlingi^ 
where it is noon.^ midnight., Sec. 

Find by the last problem, the place to which the sun is vertical 
at the given hour, and bring the same to the meridian, and rectify 
the globe to a latitude equal to the sun’s declination. Then to all 
the places just under the western side of the horizon, the sun is 


* The declination of the sun is its distance from the equator 
north or south* 



OP THE GLOBES. 


323 


rising ; to those just above the eastern horizon the sun is about to 
set; to all those under the upper half of the brazen meridian it is 
noon, and to all those under the lower half it is midnight. 

Problem XIV,— To Jind all the places to which a lunar eclipse u 

visible at any instant. 

Find the place to which the sun is vertical at that time, and 
bring that place to the zenith, and set the index to the upper 
twelve, then turn the globe till the index point to the lower twelve, 
and the eclipse is visible to every part of the earth that is now 
above the horizon. 


OF THE CELESTIAL GLOBE. 

The Celestial Globe is an artificial representation of the heavens, 
having the fixed stars drawn upon it, in their natural order and 
situation. The eye is supposed to be placed in the centre. 

As the terrestrial globe by turning on its axis represents the real 
diurnal motion ol the earth; so the celestial globe, by turning on 
its axis, represents the apparent motion of the heavens. 

The Zodiac is an imaginary belt round the heavens of about six¬ 
teen degrees broad; through the middle of which runs the eclip¬ 
tic or the apparent path of the sun. 

Note. The twelve signs of the zodiac which belong to the ce¬ 
lestial globe have been already enumerated. 

Equinoctial Points are the first points of Aries and Libra, so 
called, because when the sun appears to be in either of them, the 
days and nights are equal. 

Solstitial Points are the first points of Cancer and Capricorn, 
so called because when the sun arrives at either of them he seems 
to stand still, or be at the same height in the heavens at twelve 
o’clock at noon for several days together. 

Declination on the celestial globe is the same as latitude on the 
terrestrial; being the distance of a star from the equinoctial, either 
north or south. 

Right Jlscension of a star is its distance from the first meridian, 
for that which passes through the first point of Aries) counted in 
degrees, on the equinoctial quite round the globe. 

Latitude of a star is its distance from the ecliptic, either north 
or south, counted in degrees of the quadrant of altitude. The sun 
being always in the ecliptic has no latitude. 

Longitude of a star is counted on the ecliptic, in degrees, or in 
signs and degrees, from the beginning of Aries eastward round the 
globe. 



TAB&i: 


Showing the number of miles contained in a Degree of 
Longitude, in each Parallel of Latitude, from the 
Equator to the Poles, 


Degrees 

of 

Latitude. 

Miles. 
JOOth parts 
of a mile. 

Degrees 

of 

Latitude. 

Miles. 

100th parUi 

of a mile. 

Degrees 

of 

Latitude. 

Miles. 
lOQth parts 
of a mile. 

1 

59,96 

31 

51,43 

61 

29,04 

2 

59,94 

32 

50,88 

62 

28,17 

3 

59,92 

33 

50,32 

63 

27,24 

4 

59,86 

34 

49,74 

64 

26,30 

5 

59,77 

35 

49,15 

65 

25,36 

6 

59,67 

36 

48,54 

66 

24,41 

7 

59,56 

37 

47,92 

67 

23,45 

8 

59,40 

38 

47,28 

68 

22,48 

9 

59,20 

39 

46,62 

69 

21,51 

10 

59,18 

40 

46,00 

70 

20,52 

11 

58,89 

41 

45,28 

71 

19,54 

12 

58,68 

42 

44,95 

•72 

18,52 

13 

58,46 

43 

43,88 

73 

17,55 

14 

58,22 

44 

43,16 

74 

16,53 

15 

58,00 

45 

42,43 

75 

15,52 

16 

57,60 

46 

41,68 

76 

14,51 

17 

57,30 

47 

41,00 

77 

13,50 

18 

57,04 

48 

40,15 

78 

12,48 

19 

56,73 

49 

39,36 

79 

11,45 

20 

56,38 

50 

38,57 

80 

10,42 

21 

56,00 

51 

37,73 

81 

09,38 

22 

55,63 

52 

37,00 

82 

08,35 

23 

55,23 

53 

36,18 

83 

07,32 

24 

54,81 

54 

35,26 

84 

06,28 

25 

54,38 

55 

34,41 

85 

05,23 

26 

54,00 

56 

33,55 

86 

04,18 

27 

53,44 

57 

32,67 

87 

03,14 

28 

53,00 

58 

31,70 

88 

02.09 

29 

52,48 

59 

30,90 

89 

01,05 

SO 

51,96 

60 

30,00 

90 

00,00 




























